Avengers Infinity War: The Epic Showdown

10 Years in the Making! From the beginning with Ironman, we have been on a roller coaster adventure that has all lead to this point. This movie was a Hall of Fame Roster of Marvel Superheroes teamed up together for the Ultimate Worldbeating Villain himself, Thanos. Through the Good, Bad, Ugly and in between, this journey has to lead to this very point. This was the MCU Dream Team of All-Time Greats teaming up for an Epic War of Massive Proportions. For years, Marvel's biggest flaw was in their Villain Department. The Heroes were well written, but their Achilles Heel was always the rival. Fans complained for years about how the Villains are not very well developed and how they are easily beatable. With the exception of Loki, the average MCU Villain was one and done. However, Marvel has slowly but surely turned things around as of late. From Vulture (Spider-Man Homecoming) to Hela (Thor: Ragnarok) to Killmonger (Black Panther), the MCU has slowly been turning the tide to make improvements to balance things out between the Heroes and Villains.

In order to be a truly great Hero, you need a great Dance Partner to bounce off of. This time, Marvel made the biggest improvement because Thanos is the culmination of everything they have been building up to. Even when everyone was talking about the greatness of Erik Killmonger, I kept saying "You haven't seen anything yet" because I was referring to Thanos. As good as Killmonger was, Thanos makes him look like a Boyscout. With the hype building further for this movie, I knew that it would go beyond expectations and I was not disappointed. With the previews, I already knew this would be a wild ride, and it truly was. Marvel kept a slow build up in the beginning as Black Panther was gaining momentum. Once Black Panther became a surprise smash hit at the Box Office, Marvel revved up the engine for the Infinity War marketing machine. From that point, it was off to the races. With all of the speculation and predictions about the movie, I knew my prediction about the beginning would become a reality. It is time to get into that and more.

This movie did not waste time establishing how much of a Monster Villain Thanos is because things got savage very quickly. Infinity War starts off where Thor Ragnarok ended where we saw Thor and Loki staring at a Giant Spaceship which turned out to be Thanos' ship. From that point, the movie starts off with the Asgardian Refugee ship destroyed with the bodies of dead Asgardians laying on the floor. Thanos watches over the dead bodies with his minions the Black Order. Meanwhile, they surround Loki as he watches Thanos grab Thor by the head to torture him. As Thanos burns Thor's head with the Power Stone, Loki tells him to stop as he reveals the Tesseract (Space Stone). Loki gives Thanos the Space Stone to spare Thor's life. Before that happens, Loki tells Thanos that there is a Hulk on the ship. He used the same line that Tony Stark used on him to send Hulk to attack him in the first Avengers Movie "We have a Hulk". The Incredible Hulk rushes in to attack Thanos and gives him a sick combo. However, Thanos counters Hulk to get out of the corner. From that point, Thanos proceeded to annihilate The Hulk from a series of combos to a Gorilla Press Slam. Heimdall sends Hulk to Earth, only for Thanos to stab him with the Sword. as Loki gives Thanos the Tesseract he also tries to betray him by pulling out a dagger. Thanos would not be fooled by Loki's shenanigans, as he also reminds Loki of his failure from the battle of New York. Loki's arm freezes as he attempts to stab Thanos. The Mad Titan grabs Loki by the throat to kill him by breaking his neck. Thanos would say "There will be no Resurrection" meaning Loki is gone for good. Thor watches helplessly while his brother is killed mercilessly. After Thanos kills Loki, he leaves with the Black Order while destroying the Asgardian Ship. Meanwhile, Thor floats into Space after the chaos.

From that point, we also see the Team-Up of Ironman, Dr. Strange and Bruce Banner in New York outside of the Sanctum Santorum with the invasion Ebony and Obsidian. Banner tells Stark and Strange about Thanos and his mission to gather all of the Infinity Stones. Bruce still cannot transform because the Hulk lost his confidence. Meanwhile, Ironman and Dr. Strange battle Thanos' henchmen until Thanos' ship arrives on Earth. The battle continues there. Meanwhile, Peter Parker sees the ship from his Bus as he escapes to become Spider-Man. Parker gets on the ship, but Ironman finds him as he deploys the Iron-Spider suit for Peter to wear. Tony and Dr. Strange get into an argument about how they got in this position. Meanwhile, Tony is also trying to figure out how Peter got into this situation. Dr. Strange is tortured by one of the Black Order members as they try to take the Time Stone from him before Ironman makes short work of him. From that point, they arrive on Thanos' Home Planet of Titan.

The movie goes to the Guardians of the Galaxy storyline as they are flying the Milano Spaceship. As they are flying, they see a mysterious body floating from Space as it lands on their windshield. When the Guardians bring the body inside, they find out it is Thor. I actually enjoyed this interaction as well, because it seems like a great matchup. When Thor wakes up, Starlord stares him down as he mocks his accent. When you team up Thor with the Guardians, expect some jokes at some point. Thor tells his story as he tells them about Thanos and his quest to gather the Infinity Stones. As Thor talks about the Soul Stone, Gamora has a look on her face as if she already knows about it. Gamora tells Starlord that she knows where the Soul Stone is, but she got rid of the Map. She tells Quill to promise to kill her over the Soul Stone. From that point, you knew that her time was ticking. Fast forward to when they see Thanos as he collects the Reality Stone. The Guardians think that they have beaten Thanos, but he uses the Reality Stone to trick them as he takes Gamora to Soul World. In order to retrieve the Soul Stone, you have to sacrifice something or someone that you love and that someone who Thanos loved was Gamora. We are also met with an unexpected surprise with the appearance of the Red Skull on the Mountain where Thanos sacrifices Gamora. As Thanos looks over, Gamora tells him that he loves nothing. However, Thanos sheds a tear as the Red Skull tells Gamora that those tears are for her. Tragically, Thanos kills Gamora by throwing her off the cliff for the sake of the Soul Stone. This shows how ruthless Thanos can be to get what he wants the most. We also witness a flashback to when Thanos first took Gamora as his Daughter.

In between that time, we see Vision and Scarlet Witch together in Scotland where they have taken residence following Civil War. Vision has taken on a human form to disguise himself so that they can separate themselves from their lifestyles as Avengers. However, their time together is interrupted by an attack from the Black Order as they try to take the Mind Stone from Vision's head. However, Captain America comes in for the rescue. Proxima Midnight throws her Spear at Cap, only for him to catch it. Falcon and Black Widow join in for the save as well. From that point, they meet War Machine to discuss how to save Vision. They are also met by Bruce Banner. When they talk about a way to receive help from someone Technologically Advanced, Rogers says that he knows who can help. This is where the Black Panther music plays as we transition to Wakanda. Cap flies the jet to Wakanda to meet with King T'Challa and his Army of Dora Milaje led by General Okoye. Here, T'Challa gives everyone the marching orders as he tells his people to give Cap a new Shield. Meanwhile, Shuri scans Vision's database and his mind to heal him. Black Panther tells his team to give "White Wolf" aka Bucky Barnes a new Metal Arm. Steve reunites with Bucky to take on the aliens that Thanos sends to invade Wakanda.



When Thanos arrives at Titan, he is met by the Guardians, Ironman, Spider-Man, and Dr. Strange where they have another Great Battle with great attacks from Ironman, Spider-Man as well as Starlord and Strange. However, the course of their mission is drastically changed when Thanos is held down by Ironman and the others as he shares the tragic news of Gamora's death. Starlord finds this out as he goes into a rage over her death. Instead of helping his Team take the Gauntlet away from Thanos, Quill takes his frustrations out on him in a blind rage. It got so bad to the point where Ironman had to hold him back. Ironman goes toe to toe with Thanos in an Epic Showdown where it looked like Ironman would die. Thanos even said "I hope they remember you" after he stabs Stark. However, Dr. Strange came in for the save as he gives Thanos the Time Stone to save Tony's life. Strange also tells everyone that out of 14,000.000 outcomes, they only win one so this is their "Endgame" as he tells them. With the Time Stone, Thanos goes to the last place of Battle, Wakanda.

While all of these things are going on, Thor has been on his own side Mission with Rocket and Groot to go to the Planet where Mjolnir was built. There, he receives assistance from one of the Giant Dwarfs played by Peter Dinklage from Game of Thrones. It was amazing to see how they made him such a Giant. Thor has to go into a device where he forges his new Weapon, Stormbreaker out of the heart of a dying star. It was so intense that Thor almost died. However, Groot came through at the most crucial time as he saw the Axe had been formed. Groot chops off one of his arms to create the handle that this new weapon needs. From that point, it is on to the Final Showdown with Thanos. As Black Panther, the Dora Milaje, the Jobari Tribe (M'Baku's Team) and others fight alongside Cap and his team, lightning strikes as Thor, Groot, and Rocket make their Grand Entrance to Wakanda to clean house. While that is going on, Thanos finds Vision to take the Mind Stone. However, Scarlet Witch takes the Stone out of Vision's head to destroy it. Unfortunately, Thanos uses the Time Stone to reverse Time to the point where the Mind Stone was destroyed so that he could put it back together. When Thanos puts the Stone back together, he kills Vision. At this point, Thanos accomplished his mission of collecting all of the Infinity Stones. Thor gets the chance for revenge as he throws Stormbreaker at Thanos as it stabs him in the heart. We think that the Avengers have won, but Thanos is still alive. Thanos tells Thor that he should've aimed for the head, and for good reason. Suddenly, Thanos performs his most Iconic Move from the Comic Book as he snaps his fingers to wipe out half of the Universe. Gamora and Thanos have each mentioned this previously. From this point, we see the aftermath of Thanos' action. Out of nowhere, we see people dissolving into dust as they are wiped out. The most notable characters and biggest surprises were Black Panther and Spider-Man. Other characters that turned into dust included Scarlet Witch, Bucky, Falcon, Groot, Starlord, Drax, Dr. Strange, and Mantis. The Original Avengers Team survived, along with War Machine, Okoye, Rocket and Nebula. On Titan, Tony mourns the death of Peter Parker as he cries before he leaves. That was the most touching scene along with Gamora's Death and T'Challa's death.

When it was all said and done, Thanos sits down looking at the Sunset reflecting on what he accomplished. The only Post Credit Scene shows Nick Fury with agent Maria Hill as they are involved in a car accident. The people that were driving before had suddenly disappeared. The camera shows Agent Hill disappearing, followed by Agent Fury himself while he pages someone. The person that Fury pages turn out to be Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel.

Overall, I was very pleased with this Movie. It reminded me of Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back because of the cliffhanger ending. The Storylines were well established and developed as each character had plenty of screen time. Enough to go around for everyone to share. Thanos had great battles with everyone in their own special way. Even though there were characters everywhere, the Russo Brothers knew how to create a healthy balance between them. My Co-MVPs for this Movie would have to be Thanos and Thor with Ironman and Dr. Strange following right behind them. This was Thanos' Movie, Thor was the Most Improved since Ragnarok, Ironman was seen as the Building Block of the Avengers, and Dr. Strange came through in the clutch by saving Tony's life. I would give this Movie 10 out of 10 Infinity Gauntlets.

Black Panther: Cultural Gamechanger

As we draw closer to the Premiere of the MCU Blockbuster "Black Panther", I would like to dive into the History of the Most Significant Black Superhero in History, The Black Panther himself. I would also like to share my thoughts about what Black Panther means to me as a Black Comic Book fan. This Movie has already broken records for Most Presale Tickets sold for any Superhero Movie ever, and that INCLUDES "Captain America: Civil War", where Chadwick Boseman made his debut as the King of Wakanda. However, Black Panther's roots go deeper than his appearance in Civil War.

Concept and Origin:
Created by Writer Stan Lee and Artist Jack Kirby, the Black Panther made his debut in Issue #52 of the Fantastic Four in July-August 1966 along with Fantastic Four Annual #5 in 1967. T'Challa took fans by storm as he defeated the Fantastic Four by himself, and in very convincing fashion. Although the character predates the actual Black Panther Party (Founded in October 1966), it came at a very crucial time in history. The Character also shares the same name as the World War II Black Panthers Tank Battalion. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby wanted to present their African American fanbase with a hero that they can see themselves in and live through that character. Hence, the Black Panther was created.

He is the first Black Superhero in American Mainstream Comic Books. Before him, virtually no black heroes were created, especially none with actual superpowers. Following his debut in the Fantastic Four features, Black Panther would appear with Captain America in Tales of Suspense #97 (January-March 1968). T'Challa comes from the fictional African Country of Wakanda, the most Technologically Advanced Country in the World. He is the Leader of that Country and owns the largest supply of Vibranium, the same metal that Captain America's shield is made out of. Vibranium in Wakanda is the equivalent of Diamonds, Oil, Minerals, etc in the Real African Countries. We all know how History turned out in that regard. With that being said, the Story of Wakanda tells a strong message about how important it is for Africans and African Americans have to defend their property from Outsiders who look to pillage their land and steal their most prized possessions. Black Panther would receive his first official starring feature in Jungle Action #5 (July 1973), a reprint of the Central Black Panther Story in Avengers #62 (March 1969). Black Panther has also defeated the KKK in one of his most Legendary Issues (Jungle Action Vol. 2, #21, May 1976).

Background:
The Black Panther is a mantle passed from generation to generation. It is the ceremonial title given to the King of the Panther Tribe of Wakanda. In addition to ruling the country, T'Challa rules various other tribes within Wakanda. In the distant past, a meteorite made of the vibration-absorbing mineral known as Vibranium crashed in Wakanda and was unearthed. Knowing that outsiders could invade their country and steal this valuable resource, King T'Chaka like his father before him, concealed his country from the outside world. T'Challa would also follow suit to make sure that Wakanda does not suffer from colonization. Marvel has a very strategic way of sending a message to us regarding history. Even though T'Challa is next in line to carry the Black Panther Mantle based on his bloodline, he still had to earn his stripes through the Wakandan Rites of Passage. He would eventually succeed in this process to become the new King of Wakanda. Along the way, T'Challa met a young woman named Ororo Monroe, later known as X-Men Mutant Storm. The two would fall in love, but would soon break up because of T'Challa's desire to avenge his father's death and wanting to become the man who could suitably lead a Nation like Wakanda. They would eventually see each other again in the future. T'Challa earned the title and attributes of The Black Panther by defeating the many different champions of Wakanda. Black Panther's Archrival is Erik Killmonger, along with other adversaries from Ulysses Klaw, Man-Ape, etc. Killmonger is to Black Panther what Sabretooth is to Wolverine, what Loki is to Thor, Venom to Spider-Man, etc. You could even say that Killmonger is the Joker to T'Challa's Batman.

Avengers Affiliation:
Along with being the King of the Nation of Wakanda, Black Panther also splits time as a Member of the Avengers. He has helped them defeat the Sons of the Serpent as well as the Skrulls in "Secret Invasion" among other adventures. T'Challa played a pivotal role in "Captain America: Civil War" during the Sokovia Accords during his quest to avenge his father's murder at the UN Building as King T'Chaka was going to sign the Sokovia Accords Agreement. T'Challa would eventually leave his Active Avengers Membership to return to Wakanda on the brink of Civil War. He would also accept the aide of Agent Everett K. Ross as he faces multiple threats to the sovereignty of Wakanda.

Marriage to Storm:
After helping his old flame Ororo Monroe (Storm) reunite with her family, T'Challa later proposes. The two married in a large Wakandan ceremony attended by many superheroes, including Captain America and Ironman. Together, they would fight alongside Captain America's anti-registration forces. During the end battle, the Wakandan embassy in Manhattan is heavily destroyed, but no Wakandans are hurt. After the battle, Panther and Storm briefly fill in for vacationing Fantastic Four Members Reed and Sue Richards before returning to Wakanda.

Secret Wars:
During the "Secret Wars", Black Panther teams with Mr. Fantastic, Starlord, Spider-Man, Thor (Jane Foster), Captain Marvel, and a Phoenix enhanced Cyclops to fight off Dr. Doom. Dr. Strange retrieves an Infinity Gauntlet to help T'Challa fight off Dr. Doom. Strange ensures T'Challa that the Gauntlet would work in the location where Doom built his main fortress. The Gauntlet works, as Black Panther uses the Time Gem to go back to Wakanda to tell lead his people.




Powers/Abilities:
Black Panther has Enhanced Strength, Agility, Speed, Stamina, Healing, Reflexes, Athleticism and Superhuman Senses thanks to a Special Heart-Shaped Herb from Wakanda. He is also a skilled scientist, inventor, hunter, strategist, tracker and politician with a Ph.D. in physics from Oxford University. T'Challa is also a master of multiple African Martial Arts and a Gymnast that trains rigorously. Black Panther is a brilliant inventor on par with the likes of Tony Stark and Reed Richards, and an excellent combat strategist on par with that of Captain America. T'Challa holds victories over Ironman and Cap in 1-on-1 Combat. Black Panther also has access to various magical artifacts, along with advanced Wakandan Military and Technological Hardware. His bodyguards are the Wakandan Warriors known as the Dora Milaje (The Adorned Ones). Black Panther will certainly be a Powerful Asset during the Infinity War against Thanos.

Legacy:

The Legacy of the Black Panther is that of prestige and prominence. Black Panther is the benchmark that every other Black Superhero, Past, Present, and Future is measured by. He is not the traditional Black Sidekick (War Machine, Falcon, Cyborg), nor the Black Alternative (John Stewart-Green Lantern, Miles Morales-Spiderman). With all due respect to those characters, they don't move the needle of the Culture the way that Black Panther does. T'Challa is Africa's Equivalent of Steve Rogers (Capt. America). Steve takes pride in his heritage as an American, while T'Challa takes pride in his Wakandan heritage. They are the Primary National Symbols of their respective Countries. Cap has a Shield made of Vibranium, while Black Panther's Entire Suit is made of Vibranium. If it wasn't for Vibranium, Cap would not have his Signature Shield. That is a Testament to Wakanda's influence on the Outside World. It also mirrors the Influence that Black People as a Collective have on Culture. Wakanda has had connections to the MCU ever since Ironman 2. As Nick Fury and Tony Stark have their conversation about the Avengers Initiative, there is a Map in the background. If you look very carefully, you will see Wakanda. In Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers is fascinated by the Prototype Shield that Howard Stark had laying around. Howard tells him it is made out of Vibranium (I wonder where he got it from). In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Bruce Banner mispronounces Wakanda before finally making the correction. Finally, in Civil War, Black Panther makes his arrival. It was the culmination of things coming full circle for the history of Black Panther in the MCU before he makes his debut solo film. It was fascinating to see Cap go face to face with the man that owns the very Metal that his Shield is made out of. Wakanda went from being a blip on the Radar in Ironman 2 to becoming a Central Location right before Infinity War. It went from being mentioned passively in previous Marvel films to becoming a place of Prominence in the MCU. This goes to show that the Last shall be First and the First shall be Last. Here, we have a character that is not portrayed as a Sidekick, a Parody, a Thug, Drug Dealer, Slave, or any other negative Black Stereotype. I look for nothing but the best from this Movie and expect it to make a significant impact on the Genre. Will it be a Movie that will change the world overnight? No, but it is great to see us portrayed in the best light possible. While he is not the first Black Superhero onscreen (Meteor Man, Blank Man, Blade), he will make the biggest impact. Blank Man and Meteor Man were Caricatures of Black Heroes and were not taken seriously at all. As nostalgic as those characters are within the Black Community, they were simply Parodies, and we cannot afford to be seen that way any longer. Wesley Snipes originally wanted to play Black Panther before he became Blade. Black Panther destroys Stereotypes of Black Heroes and just Black Characters in General on the Bigscreen. The Best is yet to come. Long Live the King, Wakanda Forever!!

D23 Expo

Recently, Disney had their Exclusive "D23" Expo where they revealed many bombshells regarding the future of Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel Comics. Lately, Disney has been racking up W's left and right through their own production, along with Marvel and Star Wars. This Expo was filled with many reveals that have shaken the foundation of Disney in a positive way. They are not holding anything back when it comes to their future plans as they gave full detail. Here are some of the highlights of D23.

Avengers: Infinity War

I would have to say that this was the Biggest Reveal of the night because this is pretty much the Finale of the MCU. The Infinity War is the Ultimate Showdown between Thanos vs. The Avengers. This story is so big that the Movie has to be a Two Part Series. The coolest part is when the figure of Thanos was revealed along with his children known as the "Black Order". The Life-Sized Replica of the Infinity Gauntlet was my favorite reveal along with the unveiling of the Thanos figure itself. This movie is also significant because many of the Actors have contracts that will expire when this movie is through. After this, Marvel will pretty much go back to square one with their mainstays that got the ball rolling to where we are now. This will be a Battle with a Hall of Fame lineup of Marvel Legends, from Ironman, Capt. America, Spiderman, Hulk, Thor, etc. Marvel would also reveal future movies in their MCU lineup. The future will continue to shine brightly at Marvel. 

Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi

For all of the Star Wars fans, Disney unveiled new behind the scenes footage of the latest installment of the Historic Franchise (Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi). It featured footage of the Millennium Falcon, Rey, Luke Skywalker, Kylo Ren and Captain Phasma. Finn will have more action in this movie, and it looks like he will get to "Strike Back" against Capt. Phasma (No Pun Intended). The cast came out to reveal new exclusive character posters for the film. There is also a special poster in honor of Carrie Fisher. The color theme for each of these posters happens to be red, which means this movie will be gruesome. The Force is strong, and so is the Color Red. 

Kingdom Hearts III:

The Popular Disney Video Game Franchise has returned with a MAJOR Reveal. After years of demands from the fans, Disney has finally made this happen. In Kingdom Hearts III, there is a new Toy Story World that you can play in using Sora, Goofy, and Donald Duck. At D23, there was a video of Sora and his team opening their eyes to find out they were shrunk down to the size of toys. They find themselves looking around a room that happens to be Andy's room from Toy Story. The crowd lost their minds when they saw this. It was even cooler to see Woody and Buzz Lightyear introduce themselves. Disney knows that their fans have been waiting for this for a long time, and they have delivered. Even I have always wondered when they would add the Toy Story World on this game because you cannot tell the story of Disney without Toy Story. You can also play through other Pixar themed worlds like Big Hero 6 and others. In previous Games, you could go through different Disney Movie worlds from Lion King, Aladdin, Hercules, Little Mermaid, and even Nightmare Before Christmas. Now, things have gotten even better with the addition of my favorite Pixar Movie of all-time. I'm looking forward to Woody telling Sora "You Are A Toy!!!". 

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge:

This is an interactive experience where you get to ride in the Millennium Falcon and live out the legendary Adventure through the Galaxy. 

Star Wars Themed Resort: 

This new Disney Themed Resort will help you live out your dreams of being a part of the Star Wars Adventure. As you join the Resort, you will be immediately supplied with Star Wars attire. It is also filled with characters, stories, and adventures that unfold. It is part of Disney's Plans for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resorts.

Guardians of the Galaxy Resort:

With the success of Marvel's latest franchise, Disney has decided to have a special resort with the theme of Guardians of the Galaxy. This is an attraction that will definitely catch the imaginations of those that visit.

Pixarland:

Disney has revealed that they will have an exclusive Theme Park dedicated to the World of Pixar. From Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Inside Out, etc, this Park is filled with plenty of rides and attractions that are centered around the Iconic 3-D Animated Movies. Pixar has been a vital part of the Disney story, and it will have its own Theme Park at Hollywood Studios.


New Releases:

Disney has also announced the new releases of their own exclusive Movies.

Incredibles 2:

After nearly 15 years, Disney has decided to pull the trigger and release a sequel. As a fan of the Original Movie, I am extremely thrilled to see the long awaited sequel. Mr. Incredible, his Family, and his long time friend Frozone have made their return and we are in for a ride.

Toy Story 4:

Here we are for the Fourth and possibly final Installment of Pixar's Innovative Franchise. Director John Lasseter has decided to step down and pass the role over to Josh Cooley. Cooley, along with producer Jonas Rivera started as Interns at Pixar Studios. Now, they have been promoted as the leaders of Pixar's second generation of Movies. This movie picks up where we left off at Part 3 when Andy leaves his Toys to a new owner. It will be very interesting to see how they make their transition. Toy Story 4 is set for release in the Summer of 2019.

Wreck It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet

One of the surprises at D23 was the announcement of the sequel to Wreck It Ralph. The Sequel shows Arcade Game Character Wreck It Ralph and his sidekick Vanellope fighting pop-up ads and listicles as they invade the Internet. In the previous film, we saw several cameos from Street Fighter Icons like Ken, Ryu, Chun-Li, M. Bison, Cammy, Blanka, and Zangief, along with Sonic the Hedgehog, Dr. Eggman, along with Bowser from Mario Bros among others. This time, there are cameos from the Stormtroopers as well as famous Disney Characters. Those cameos include Disney Princesses such as Jasmine, Pocahontas, Ariel, Rapunzel, and Belle. The Actresses that played those roles will reprise them for the movie.

Frozen 2/Olaf's Frozen Adventure

With the massive success of the breakout film Frozen, Disney and Pixar have decided to team up again for the awaited sequel. This time, they have also added a holiday special for Elsa's sidekick Olaf called "Olaf's Frozen Adventure". When a movie breaks historical box office records, a sequel is naturally in demand.

There were also announcements made for live action versions of The Lion King and Aladdin. If Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast did great in the Box Office, I expect these movies to smash records.

Conclusion: 

Disney put everyone on notice at this Expo and unveiled Major Plans for their future. They pulled everything out of their arsenal when it comes to Marvel Comics and Star Wars. The Star Wars Themed Attractions are a great way to honor their 40th Anniversary. It was also great to see Toy Story make its way to the world of Kingdom Hearts. The presence of Pixar was also very strong as they unveiled their own theme park along with sequels to their most popular movies. The future appears to be extremely bright in the land of Disney and we are just getting started.

Top 10 Black Superheroes of all-time

Lately, there has been a renaissance of Black Superheroes. With the impact of Black Panther in "Captain America: Civil War" as well as the success of the show "Luke Cage" on Netflix, there has been a noticeably greater rise of prominence for Black Heroes. Originally, Black Heroes were not taken as seriously. However, we have seen steady progress with the creation of a black Spider-Man (Miles Morales) as well as a black female teenager taking over the Ironman Armor (Riri Williams). This is a smart and creative move on Marvel's behalf to establish diversity among two of their most Iconic figureheads, while still keeping the originals (Peter Parker, Tony Stark) in the mix.

With all of that said, it is time to pay homage to the Greatest and Most Significant Black Superheroes in Comic Book History. These are the Heroes that left the Biggest Mark on the Comic Book World. Here is my List of the Top 10 Black Superheroes of all-time:

10. Bishop:

Comic World: Marvel

Real Name: Lucas "Luke" Bishop

First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #282 (November 1991)

Powers/Abilities:

• Energy Absorption
• Beyond peak human strength that becomes near superhuman with absorption
• Time Travel
• Agility, Stamina, Intelligence
• Flight
• High Tech Gadgets
• Weapon Mastery

Lucas Bishop is a mutant from Earth's future, where he grew up in a time where mutants were persecuted. This was a time where the Sentinels took over control of North America. Bishop's grandmother raised him and his sister Shard as she told them stories of the X-Men heroes of the past. Lucas grew up in an Apocalyptic Age where he was blasted back to the time of the same X-Men that he heard stories about. Bishop would join those same X-Men after finding out who they were. He is considered by many to not only be the "Last X-Men" but one of the strongest X-Men of all-time thanks to his ability to absorb energy. The first time that Bishop received any kind of focus was when he appeared in the X-Men: Animated Series, during the Days of Future Past Storyline. Bishop was also featured in the X-Men: Days of Future Past Movie in 2015. 

9. Falcon: 

Comic World: Marvel

Real Name: Sam Wilson

First Appearance: Captain America #117 (September 1969)

Powers/Abilities:

• Telepathic link with birds. He is able to command birds telepathically and verbally.
• Master Martial Artist
• Master Aerialist
• Master Acrobat
• Weapons Master
• Special Suit: Falcon's suit is a Wakandan creation that consists of jet powered glider wings. They are charged by sunlight and linked to Sam's brain to enhance the speed and ease of the functionality. It also has talons that can capture enemies, along with a mask that enhances his vision to 360-degree range. The suit also has infrared and superhuman capabilities

Falcon is the very first African-American Comic Book Hero in History, as well as the second Black Superhero of all-time (Black Panther is from Africa). He has been important to the Marvel Universe since he became Captain America's sidekick to fight side by side with the SHIELD. Sam Wilson was rescued by Captain America from the mind control of Red Skull. Since then, Sam has become one of Steve's greatest allies. Falcon has received greater exposure with his portrayal in the Captain America Movies. 

8. Static Shock

Comic World: DC

Real Name: Virgil Hawkins

First Appearance: Static Shock #1 (June 1993)

Powers/Abilities:

• Electromagnetic phenomena generation
• Super-conduction manipulation
• Electrical manipulation
• Magnetism manipulation
• Telepathic resistance
• Wireless communication interaction
• Expert scientist, inventor, and strategist

Virgil Hawkins was a sharp-tongued honor roll student in High School before his superhero career began. Virgil was bullied so much that he joined the gang wars of Dakota. The wars escalated to a showdown at the Dakota docks. Though Hawkins was not a threat, his presence was critical at the event. This became known as the "Big Bang" because when the police arrived, they fired shots at gas canisters that detonated and killed 90% of the people in the area. Virgil survived, but the gas from the "Big Bang" charged his body with electricity, giving him electrical powers. This is where Static Shock was born. Virgil's daily struggles with teen bullying can resonate with fans, similar to how Peter Parker's (Spider-Man) story gives fans something to identify with. Static Shock makes this list, because of his cultural and generational impact especially among black comic book fans. He is someone that we can connect with and understand. 

7. War Machine: 

Comic World: Marvel

Real Name: James Rhodes

First Appearance: Iron Man #118 (January 1979)

Powers/Abilities: 

• Superhuman Strength
• Superhuman Speed
• Flight
• Variety of offensive & defensive weapons (missiles & lasers)
• Experienced soldier trained in armed & unarmed combat
• Repulsors

Colonel James Rhodes was a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, where he did tours of duty in Southeast Asia. James Rhodes helped Tony Stark shut down the base of a Viet Cong rocket fire. As a display of gratitude, Tony offered James a job as his personal pilot. After the Vietnam War was over, Rhodes took different career paths including mercenary work before accepting Stark's offer. Col. Rhodes would also become the chief aviation engineer for Stark Enterprises and one of Tony's closest friends. War Machine is seen as the Scottie Pippen to Iron Man's Michael Jordan. Just like Pippen, War Machine is a very valuable sidekick to have by your side. Before he would receive his own armor, Rhodes took over the role of Iron Man when Stark fell into his relapse of alcoholism. As the new Iron Man, Rhodey defeated Magma. To combat Justin Hammer's Masters of Silence Army, Stark designed a "Variable Threat Response Battle Suit" also known as "War Machine" (Model XVI, Mark I), a more heavily armed version of the Iron Man armor. War Machine's contributions have been vital to not only Iron Man himself, but the Avengers as a collective unit. 

6. Blade:

Comic World: Marvel
Real Name: Eric Brooks
First Appearance: The Tomb of Dracula #10 (July 1973)

Powers/Abilities:

• Superhuman Strength (1 ton), Stamina, Speed, Agility, Durability and Reflexes
• Regenerative Healing Factor
• Ability to sense undead or Supernatural creatures
• Skilled swordsman, martial artist, and marksman

Blade's mother Tara Brooks was a prostitute that lived in a brothel in England in 1929. When Brooks was pregnant, she experienced severe labor complication. Dr. Deacon Frost (a vampire in disguise), was called to help Tara. Instead, Frost fed on Tara until she died. When the brothel residents discovered the details of her murder, they chased him off. However, the baby was still delivered. The child's name was Eric Brooks. As a result of a transfer of enzymes between his mother and the vampire, Eric was born half human and half vampire. While training under the tutelage of vampire hunter Jamal Afari, Blade developed his fighting skill by routinely dispatching young, less powerful fighters. Blade also developed excellent weapon prowess as that is how he earned his nickname. Blade's supreme excellence with swords and weapons earned him a reputation that caused him to be feared both by vampires and vampire hunters. Thanks to his vampire DNA, Blade has many vampire abilities from strength, speed, and prolonged life. However, he has not inherited vampire weaknesses such as not being able to stand in the sun. Blade would also have encounters with the ultimate vampire, Dracula himself. In the late 90's, Blade's popularity exploded from his cameo in the Spider-Man animated series to the successful movies where he is portrayed by Wesley Snipes. 

5. Cyborg:

Comic World: DC

Real Name: Victor Stone

First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26 (October 1980)

Powers/Abilities:

• Superhuman strength, durability, and highly skilled in hand to hand combat
• Genius-level intellect
• Supersonic Flight
• Advanced Weaponry and Technology
• Instant Weaponry
• Control over Technology
• Computer Hacking

Victor Stone is the son of two STAR labs Scientists who wanted to use their research to advance mankind. However, Victor resented his parents because it seemed that they preferred their science work over him. Victor's parents used him as a subject for an experiment to increase his intelligence to genius level. The experiment was a success but he chose to excel in sports as a star football player. Victor's life would forever be changed one day when his parents were conducting an inter-dimensional experiment. Unfortunately, this experiment went wrong as a protoplasmic creature got loose in the lab and killed Victor's mother and critically injured him. Victor's father, Silas Stone was able to send the creature back and save his son's life by using untested cybernetic enhancements to rebuild him. Victor was enraged about what his father did to him because he could not fit into society with other human beings. From this point, he became known as "Cyborg" which is short for Cybernetic-Organism. Cyborg would become friends with the Teen Titans, especially with Beast Boy. As a member of the New Teen Titans, Cyborg's impact as one of the leaders helped their popularity reach new heights with the classic original Teen Titans Cartoon along with the current Teen Titans Go. Cyborg was instrumental in the Titans many battles with the likes of Deathstroke and others. Cyborg's success with the Teen Titans led to his promotion to the Justice League. He would replace Martian Manhunter as the team's Technology and Information expert. He is now part of the New 52 Lineup of the Justice League, most notably making an appearance in the Video Game Injustice: Gods Among Us along with Flashpoint Paradox, Batman vs. Superman along with other adaptations. Cyborg has had a profound generational impact when it comes to the audience of black comic book fans. He has grown to become an exceptional character in his own right and one of the strongest and most popular black superheroes of all-time. Cyborg's legacy speaks for itself as it continues to grow with the Justice League movie and other projects. Booyah!! 

4. Luke Cage:

Comic World: Marvel
Real Name: Carl Lucas
First Appearance: Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972)

Powers/Abilities:

• Superhuman Strength (25 tons), durability and stamina
• Invincible skin highly impervious to temperature and damage (bulletproof)
• Accelerated healing factor
• Extraordinary street fighting skills in hand to hand combat

Growing up in Harlem, Carl Lucas had a troubled childhood in a street gang called the Rivals. He was known for his fighting skills and ability to handle weapons and blades. When Lucas became disinterested in gangs, he decided to turn his life around and join the police force even though his friend Stryker rose in the crime world. Meanwhile, Lucas and Stryker remained friends. However, their friendship would become fractured when Stryker's girlfriend dumped him for Lucas. Stryker set Carl up by planting drugs in his home to frame him as he called the police. Carl would also have to deal with jealousy and betrayal from his brother James, Jr. while in prison. This angered him even more. Desperate to escape prison, Lucas accepted a deal to be a part of Dr. Noah Burstein's experiment that would reduce his jail time. The experiment was for experimental cell regeneration based on a variant of a Super-soldier procedure that Burstein used to empower Warhawk. Lucas was left unattended in an electrical field to start the experimentation. Meanwhile, a racist prison guard named Albert "Billy Bob" Rackham altered the experiment's controls in an attempt to maim or kill Lucas. Rackham pushed the intensity of the experiment beyond what it was intended to be. Instead, this left Lucas with super strength and durability. Lucas would use his newly acquired powers to break out of prison and return to New York City. From that point moving forward, Carl Lucas changed his name to Luke Cage and became a hero for hire. Eventually, Luke's innocence was restored and he opened a Hero-for-Hire office in Times Square, Manhattan. Known for his partnership with Iron Fist, Luke Cage's popularity has increased as he has become more of a fixture in the Marvel Universe over the years. Luke Cage's show on Netflix did record numbers as it became the most-watched show in Netflix History. His show absolutely broke the Internet as it became the top trend on Twitter at one point. As we live in the Era of the Black Lives Matter Movement, the concept of Luke Cage is intriguing. Luke is a bullet-proof, Black Superhero with superhuman strength who wears a hoodie. That concept brings empowerment as well as a form of intimidation to certain groups of people. Luke Cage has also picked up momentum being featured in the New Avengers and as a principle character in the Avengers comics and Marvel video games. In Marvel's series of Variant Hip Hop Covers, they paid homage to Rap Icon LL Cool J's BAD Album from 1987 by having Luke Cage stand on top of the car just like LL himself. LL even posted the cover on his Instagram page. Luke Cage and Black Panther are leading the way as Marvel's top black super-heroes when it comes to ideas for movies, cartoons, and TV series. What Luke is doing for television, Marvel expects Black Panther to do on the movie side. 

3. Green Lantern (John Stewart):

Comic World: DC

Real Name: John Stewart

First Appearance: Green Lantern/Green Arrow vol. 2 #87 (December 1971/January 1972)

Powers/Abilities:

• Wields the ring of the Green Lantern Corps that enables flight at various speeds, invulnerability, generates force fields, and the use of solid green energy to create projectile attacks, as well as defend or grab objects according to the imagination and will of the ring wearer. 
• Translates nearly all languages
• Communicates to ring wielders, regardless of distance apart
• Telepathy
• Hypnosis
• Creation and emission of certain types of radiation with kryptonite
• Accelerated healing of wounds

John Stewart holds a very significant part in the history of black superheroes because of his story. Stewart is not only the first black hero that DC has ever had, but he was also a breath of fresh air for the Green Lantern franchise. For years, the Green Lantern was portrayed by white characters from Allan Scott to Hal Jordan to later on Guy Gardner. DC itself had a track record of lily-white characters who were the face of their brand, which is what caused them to become stagnant as Marvel started to implement diversity with the emergence of Black Panther and Falcon to shake things up. Marvel was just a more relatable brand that fans could connect with in general because they tackled real issues and diversity. Marvel started taking more risks, which left DC in the dust. In response, DC pulled the trigger by changing the face of one of their central characters. DC made a move that would be a game changer for them as they would replace Hal Jordan with John Stewart as the Leader and face of the Green Lantern Corps. Artist Neal Adams and Editor Julius Schwartz had a conversation and decided to make this change given the racial makeup of the world's population. According to Adams, he and Schwartz made this choice "we ought to have a black Green Lantern, not because we're liberals, but because it makes sense". It was a move that would show fans that DC knew about the state of our society in regards to race. Even though Hal Jordan was one of the founding members of the Justice League, the staff at DC Comics wanted to go into a new direction because they had enough white characters. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman and others were the faces of the Justice League. DC felt that Hal Jordan wasn't as sustainable as the other characters so he was the most expendable. This was an investment that turned out to be a great decision in the long run because Stewart became the most popular and successful Green Lantern in the current era of comics. This is due in large part to his role in the Justice League Unlimited series and the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game. John Stewart's story is similar to James Rhodes "War Machine". Both were in the U.S. Marine Corps and were the black counterparts to legendary figures in comic book history. Stewart was also an architect from Detroit Michigan. John was chosen by the Guardians of the Universe to be Hal Jordan's replacement after acting Lantern Guy Gardner was injured. Originally, Jordan was hesitant but Stewart's intuitiveness won him over. A great sign of Stewart's boldness took place when he refused to save a racist politician from an assassination attempt. Hal Jordan was infuriated that he didn't save him, but John had to tell him the truth. John Stewart won the fans over with his discipline, integrity, and leadership. His experience in the Marine Corps was a huge advantage that helped him as a member of the Lantern Corps. Hal Jordan's perception has taken a huge blow with the flop of the Green Lantern movie, as well as his inability to connect with the modern fans. Stewart's presence is pivotal for both the Green Lantern franchise and the Justice League because he resonates in ways that Jordan does not. John Stewart has broken the color barrier for the Lantern Corps as he has produced a much-needed change. Stewart has gone from obscurity from the mainstream to total recognition and critical acclaim. 

2. Storm:

Comic World: Marvel
Real Name: Ororo Munroe
First Appearance: Giant-Sized X-Men #1 (May 1975)

Powers/Abilities:

• Control of weather, temperature, lightning, rain, mist, and the wind
• Resistance to extremely hot or cold temperatures
• Flight
• Connection to the biosphere and other life forces
• Telepathic immunity
• Energy vision that enables her to see all things around her in light or complete darkness
• Very skilled in martial arts, hand-to-hand combat, fencing and piloting

What else is there to say about her that hasn't already been said? Storm is a groundbreaker because she is the first black female superhero in comic book history with her debut in the Giant-Sized X-Men issue #1 in May 1975. Her debut helped to not only open more doors for diversity within Marvel, but it brought new life to the X-Men franchise. That all-star lineup that featured her, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Banshee saved a once stagnant franchise and brought it to new heights. Marvel was already ahead of the curve when it came to diversity in comparison to their counterpart, DC Comics. With the addition of Storm, they continued to solidify themselves as a brand that relates to everyone. Storm represents the empowerment of not just women, but black women especially. That is why it is so fitting to present her as a queen type of character. Many times, Storm has been positioned as the leader and for good reason. Storm rules with an iron fist and commands respect with the way that she carries herself. Even Wolverine himself knows how to give Storm her respect. Originally, Storm was born in Manhattan but moved to Egypt which is where she grew up. Living in Cairo, Storm's parents were killed in an airplane bombing, leaving her as an orphan at six years old. Later on in her youth, Storm bonded with Prince T'Challa also known as the Black Panther. Young Ororo (Storm) saved T'Challa from a dangerous situation, leading to a brief romance. However, they would go their separate ways as T'Challa would avenge his father's death and fulfill his destiny as the future King of Wakanda. They would meet later down the road, as they would marry each other. One day, young Ororo would meet Professor Charles Xavier, who explained that she was a mutant and that he could help her understand and master her abilities. Storm would agree to assist Xavier and begin her evolution as one of the chief members of the legendary X-men. Storm is considered to be one of the most powerful X-men of all time and is often placed in a leadership position. She can control the weather by generating intense winds, hurricanes, tornadoes as well as hurl lightning. Her body temperature often changes because of the way that she can adapt to the environment, making her immune to all extreme conditions of cold or heat. Storm's will is one of the strongest in the Marvel Universe because she cannot be manipulated or tracked telepathically. Even when Storm is not flying or wielding her supernatural power, she can hold her own in hand-to-hand combat. Her popularity exploded with the X-Men Animated Series in the 90's, cameos in the Spiderman Animated Series, the Marvel vs. Capcom Franchise and the X-Men Movie Franchise with her role played by Halle Berry. There is no question that Storm is the quintessential black female superhero with an amazing legacy in comic book history. 

1. Black Panther:

Comic World: Marvel
Real Name: T'Challa
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #52-53 (July/August 1966)

Powers/Abilities:

• Olympic level strength (750 lbs), speed, agility, reflexes and stamina
• Superhuman senses: sight, smell, and hearing
• Genius level intelligence, inventor, scientist and strategist
• Hand-to-hand combat master
• Trained gymnast and acrobat
• Vibranium enhanced suit and Vibranium claws that could rip through any metal
• Bulletproof Vibranium suit

This is the definition of black excellence. Black Panther became the very first black mainstream superhero with his debut in Fantastic Four #52-53 in the Summer of 1966. His debut was vital at a time where there needed to be diversity within comics because of the climate that our society was in during the 1960's. Black Panther's debut happened to fall in the same year that the Black Panther Party made their debut. How fitting? Don't you just love irony? This was also the time where Muhammad Ali refused to enter the Vietnam War. We were still recovering from the loss of Malcolm X, while little did we know that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr would meet his demise just two years later. So, Black Panther's arrival came at a crucial time in history, particularly black history. This was Marvel's biggest power play at that time when it came to addressing diversity. They had touched on it to a degree with the theme of the X-Men story and their connection to MLK and Malcolm X's fight against discrimination. This time, they ripped the envelope open when they introduced T'Challa. He is the leader of the Panther tribe and king of a fictional African Kingdom called Wakanda. Black Panther is also an affiliate of the Avengers. This is an advanced country in Africa that keeps itself secluded from the rest of the world. Wakanda protects an extremely valuable alien metal known as Vibranium. This is the same metal that Captain America's shield is made out of. Vibranium has kept Wakanda's technologically superior to outside forces that threaten to take its resources. The value of Vibranium in Wakanda is equivalent to how we value to oil, gold, and diamonds in other countries. Vibranium is the driving force of their wealth, much like the technology of Apple is a driving force of wealth in America. Son of T'Chaka, T'Challa was born into the royal lineage of the Black Panther. Sadly, T'Challa's biological mother died while giving birth. Although T'Challa was the heir to the throne, he was too young and had to fulfill his rite of passage. Once T'Challa accomplished this mission, he was ready to become the King of Wakanda. Black Panther would eventually marry Ororo Monroe, better known as Storm from the X-Men. They are the definition of a black power couple in comics. King T'Chaka was the Black Panther that was assassinated by Ulysses Klaw. As T'Challa witnessed the killing, he used Klaw's weapon against him by injuring him severely and drove him off. T'Challa is a scientific genius and inventor, as his prowess as a scientist rivals that of even Tony Stark himself aka Iron Man. In fact, Black Panther is the wealthiest superhero of all time, as he is worth $500 Billion. That is right. A Multi-Billionaire. Black Panther has more money than Iron Man ($100 Billion) and Batman ($80 Billion) combined. It also helps when you are the ruler of an entire country that is ahead of the curve in technology. Black Panther is an incredible hand-to-hand fighter as he is considered one of the masters of combat in all of the Comic Universe from Marvel to DC. He is also an incredible athlete with Olympian level strength, speed, stamina, and agility. The Black Panther suit is also bulletproof and can even withstand hits from the Incredible Hulk. Like Ton Stark, T'Challa has also built his own Hulkbuster Armor, along with other forms of armor. T'Challa also carries weapons such as his "energy dagger' as well as the Ebony Blade, which can slice through adamantium (watch out Wolverine). Black Panther became the star and MVP of the movie "Captain America: Civil War". His appearance in that movie has elevated his stock to levels unlike any other time in the history of the Black Panther franchise. Now the pieces are being put together for the launch of the highly anticipated Black Panther movie, which is expected to shatter box office records and draw enormous numbers. Black Panther is without question the face of Black Superheroes because he is the measuring stick that other black characters are measured by. Black Panther is simply the greatest black hero of all time.

Always remember that as Black Lives Matter, Black Superheroes also matter.