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The McU's Multiverse Saga has received mixed reviews from fans, with most of them leaning toward the negative end of the spectrum.

While I do agree that many projects that've come out since Avengers: Endgame haven't been as strong, I still have faith that the MCU will once again be on the right track. One way they could right themselves is by focusing on more of the supernatural characters that abound in Marvel Comics, and no other character would do that than the Macabre Man-Thing!

Who is Man-Thing?

Man-Thing first appeared in the Marvel Magazine Savage Tales #1 in May of 1971, and was created by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, and Gray Morrow. Savage Tales was a line of black and white magazines that implemented a myriad of writers and artists to come up with stories with various characters that were established, such as Conan the Barbarian, behind-the-scenes facts about films,...

Horror is one of the many genres that audiences love to digest. It's particularly prominent in cinema and on television, with horror movies and TV shows enjoying a lot of success over the past few decades. In fact, I recently put together a list recommending some horror movies and TV shows based on comic books.

But there are also plenty of horror comic books, too. With that in mind, I'd now like to focus on the comics that inspired many of the movies and shows from the previous list. So, without further adieu, here's some horror comic book recommendations for spooky season.

A note that this list is in no particular order!

Swamp Thing (Various)

The muck encrusted mockery of man, the Avatar of the Green, The Swamp Thing! Swamp Thing has had a great amount of runs in his decades long history, with his initial run and introduction from...

Werewolf By Night, Marvel Studios' first ever Special presentation, debuted on Disney+ in 2022, and opened the door to a whole new corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that's yet to be further explored.

The black-and-white Halloween Special really was a first for the franchise, paying homage to the classic Universal monster movies with its noirish style, creepy atmosphere and heightened levels of violence.

Werewolf By Night introduced several new characters such as Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly) Ted, aka Man-Thing (Carey Jones), and the titular lycanthrope himself, Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal), and fans have been eager for an update on their potential return.

Director Michael Giacchino previously confirmed that discussions about doing more with the characters have taken place, but it sounds like any plans for a follow-up episode have been put on the back-burner.

"There's been a lot going on in the industry and everyone sort of recalibrating. I...

Deadpool & Wolverine features many intriguing deleted scenes, including one that strongly implies the fate of Gambit following the do-or-die showdown involving him and his fellow heroes against Cassandra Nova's army. One editor from the Marvel Cinematic Universe confirms why the post-credit scene with Channing Tatum's character didn't make the final cut.

Speaking with Screen Rant, Deadpool & Wolverine editor Shane Reid explained why the deleted scene, which saw Gambit make it out of the Void alive amid a sea of bodies, was omitted from the theatrical version. According to Reid, the reason they kept it out was that it felt like a "traditional Marvel" trope as they wanted to subvert fan expectations while somewhat keeping the focus on its main character, Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Ryan Reynolds (@vancityreynolds)

Related Marvels Venom War Gives Deadpool a Painful Reminder

Marvel's Venom War has...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has built an interesting foundation with its upcoming Thunderbolts* film. Its titular squad prominently features characters from 2021s Black Widow, including Taskmaster and Red Guardian, alongside Yelena Belovas debut with the Black Widow mantle. Its exciting to see these characters find continued success and carve out a legacy in the MCU, considering the time it took for them to get any screentime at all. A Black Widow solo film focusing on Scarlett Johanssons Natasha Romanoff was in the works for years. The previously mentioned feature even sat on the shelf for an extended period of time while Marvel worked to find a sensible release window within its timeline. But the femme fatales first modern movie attempt actually dates back even further.

In 2004, Lionsgate Entertainment purchased the film rights to Black Widow and several other characters. The studio best known for the Saw and Hunger Games film...

Madame Web spins a web of intrigue in its titular hero thanks to promotional images highlighting the central character. The new visuals offer a detailed look at the costume of Dakota Johnson's reluctant superhero.

Per Dornan Johnson Updates (via X), several newly-released shots show the updated costume design, which received limited time in the Sony Spider-Man Universe film. The full red suit sported by Johnson offers a more up-close look at the spider logo and other details, garnering good reactions on social media and questions regarding why the suit barely featured in the movie.

Exclusive Outtakes: Part 2Dakota Johnson for the Madame Web Promotional Photoshoot:https://t.co/suDwYB0m1H pic.twitter.com/u4ZoGo9zwU Dornan Johnson Updates (@xDornanJohnson) June 9, 2024 New promo photos of Dakota Johnson's full Madame Web suit pic.twitter.com/yZ8pssgSYZ Neb | (@NebsGoodTakes) June 10, 2024

Related Exclusive: Werewolf by Night's Man-Thing Gets Marvel Legends Figure...

With the Avengers becoming torch-bearers of the past and their memory serving as mythical reminders of what the MCU once used to be, fans too have languished in the glory days of old. After spending years and billions in resources behind rebuilding the franchise, it’s high time Marvel regrouped its best and brightest for a team-up movie in an effort to jumpstart its lost momentum.

Kit Harington as Dane Whitman in Eternals [Credit: Marvel Studios]Following the comic book movie industry’s rapid downfall in the wake of mass-induced superhero fatigue, nothing short of a quality lineup can convince the audience to reinvest their time and energy into the MCU again. As such, the best aspects of Phases Four and Five need to converge and establish the foundation for what is yet to come – a new chapter in Marvel’s gloriously burdened saga.

Marvel Needs to Up the Ante With...

A fan-made Ghost Rider trailer proves that Jensen Ackles is a perfect candidate for the McU's version of the cursed anti-hero. Jensen Ackles' performance as Dean Winchster in Supernatural and Soldier Boy in The Boys make him a good fit for Johnny Blaze or Danny Ketch. Ackles has expressed his interest in playing Batman, but he could instead join the McU's Midnight Sons team as Ghost Rider.

A fan-made concept trailer for the McU's Ghost Rider shows what Jensen Ackles would look like as the Spirit of Vengeance. After Nicolas Cage's two live-action appearances in 2007's Ghost Rider movie and its 2011 sequel, Ghost Rider only appeared in Agents of Shield, this time embodied by Gabriel Luna's Robbie Reyes instead of Johnny Blaze. But since Agents of Shield hasn't been fully integrated into the McU's main timeline, the Avengers' home universe doesn't have its own Ghost Rider variant yet.

Marvel showcases powerful magic users, from Man-Thing with his vegetative powers to Wong's independent sorcery. Iconic characters like Blade & Magik blur the lines between mutant & magician, wielding supernatural abilities. Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Scarlet Witch, & Loki demonstrate immense magical prowess, altering reality and battling evil.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe and other theatrical showings based off Marvel comics have put forth some incredibly powerful magic users over the years. As a whole, Marvel may be more well-known for science fiction characters like Captain America, Iron Man, and Spider-Man or the mutants of the X-Men films. But the iconic comic banner has made no secret of its powerful cadre of magic users, especially in more recent years.

Some of these magic users gained their power through intense and rigorous study, becoming familiar with and honing their minds to the powerful spells of the Marvel universe. More often than not, Marvel's supernatural...

Marvel's Man-Thing movie featured mature themes like F-bombs, sex scenes, and gruesome murders, which is a departure from family-friendly content. The film, released on Syfy in 2005, showcased a dark and gritty version of the Marvel character, focusing on horror elements and body horror. Despite being little-known and criticized, Man-Thing's unique take on the Marvel property offers a refreshing look at the character, exploring themes untouched by the MCU.

F-bombs. Gruesome murders. Sex scenes. If you tried telling somebody that Marvel once made a movie with all three of these mature themes, they would either try to convince you that you’re crazy or point to 1998’s Blade being the culprit. While that surprisingly dark and gritty superhero movie starring Wesley Snipes contains every aspect listed, it debuted on the big screen and not on the Syfy channel.

Believe it or not, in between the airings of such programs that...

Marvel surprised fans with ambitious movie plans in 2004, but many projects have yet to come to fruition even today. Unreleased Marvel movies like Namor and Silver Surfer found new life in other MCU projects over the years. Despite changes in Marvel Studios' plans, the possibility of canceled movies like Daredevil 2 or a Namor solo movie remains slim.

Marvel's movie offerings stretch much further than the MCU alone and have been just as ambitious since 2004 with multiple plans that are still yet to come to fruition. Marvel has come a long way since selling off movie rights to studios in the 80s and 90s, with the MCU becoming the most successful cinematic franchise in history by a vast margin, nearly tripling the worldwide box office of Star Wars to date. In 2004, Iron Man was one of several projects that would eventually make it past the cutting room floor before it launched...

New fan art imagines Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider in the MCU, fueling speculation about his potential casting. Despite no confirmed project, Ghost Rider's integration into the MCU is highly anticipated. Ryan Gosling is a popular fan-cast for Ghost Rider, but Marvel Studios has been rumored to have been in talks with him for other potential roles.

New Marvel Studios fan art brings to life one of the most popular fan-casts for a live-action Ghost Rider in the MCU. Although no Ghost Rider-centric project has been confirmed, the beloved Marvel Comics antihero has been one of the most heavily rumored characters to be joining the franchise. Speculation of Ghost Rider's MCU debut has gained traction as members of the supernatural team the Midnight Sons have been introduced in recent years, including Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, and, in an upcoming reboot, Blade. Ghost Rider could surely join this team,...

Original concept for Shrek was dark and low-budget, but it later became a blockbuster and animation history. Shrek is one of the most popular movie franchises, competing with Disney and other major studios. Fifth installment of Shrek with original cast and a Donkey spinoff movie are currently in development.

A week after the original test animation for Shrek surfaced online, another unrecognizable throwback to the Mike Myers-voiced ogre has been unveiled. While the test animation was thought lost for more than 20 years, someone who has been holding onto a piece of the Dreamworks history is artist Mike Ploog. Best known as the co-creator of Marvel Comics' Ghostrider and Man-Thing, among others, Ploog also created original designs for Shrek, which are almost identical in appearance to his look in the newly surfaced test footage.

Sharing the image via his Facebook page, Ploog said, "Shrek - Early concept art. This part...

In the story "...Without Fear," Daredevil's abilities as the Man Without Fear give him an advantage over Marvel monster Man-Thing who burns those with fear. Man-Thing, formerly known as Dr. Ted Sallis, transformed into a beastly creature with regenerative powers after injecting himself with a serum and crashing into a swamp. Daredevil and Man-Thing have crossed paths before and in Crypt of Shadows #1, they team up to take down undead ninjas, showcasing an inspired and fearsome pairing.

Spoilers for the story "...Without Fear" from Crypt of Shadows #1 ahead!As a street-level hero, Daredevil gets hurt a lot, but there's one Marvel character who cannot hurt him. He's armed with a baton and heightened senses, neither of which makes hits from the villains hurt any less. However, this year's Crypt of Shadows anthology has reminded readers that one monster's powers won't work on Matt Murdock.

In the story "...Without Fear," written...

Phase four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) really dove into the supernatural. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness began the descent, with Loki season one offering throwaway lines about vampires and werewolves. These stories have teased audiences about the horror-filled future, but the universe was finally introduced to its first Halloween special on Disney+ with the release of Werewolf by Night.

Update October 21, 2023: In honor of the release of Werewolf by Night in Color, this article has been updated with what the future may hold for Werewolf by Night.

Werewolf by Night was a big hit for Disney+ and the MCU and was seen as a bright spot in the shaky reaction to the franchise's post-mcu lineup. The special introduced Elsa Bloodstone and Man-Thing, as well as teased the wider supernatural world that can be built off of in projects like Blade. It has been a year since the special aired,...

Director Michael Giacchino discusses the possibility of a sequel to Werewolf by Night in a recent Q&a, expressing his desire for more with these characters. The potential sequel could explore the time period before the Avengers existed, further developing the characters of Jack Russell and Elsa Bloodstone. Werewolf by Night 2 could also introduce more supernatural creatures to the MCU and potentially follow the successful formula established by using Man-Thing in the first special presentation.

Werewolf by Night 2 gets a positive update from director Michael Giacchino as he talks about expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe supernatural adventure. One of the exciting experiments in the MCU in recent years was the arrival of Marvel Studios Special Presentations on Disney+. Werewolf by Night arrived in October 2022 and became an instant success, and a year later, a version in color has been released, allowing the audience for the Marvel Studios Special Presentations to be further expanded.

MCU TV shows have suffered from poor reception and low viewership due to major mistakes made by Marvel, hindering their success in the world of television. Many MCU TV shows would have been better as movies, as they often feel like stretched-out versions of their big-screen counterparts, lacking impactful conclusions and larger budgets. Some MCU TV shows do not directly tie into the wider MCU, leading to lower viewership and a lack of narrative resolution, while others fail to capitalize on their unique premises.

Though there have been a few high points, the McU's TV shows have been more poorly received that expected, and that's due to some pretty big mistakes made by Marvel. MCU TV shows have suffered heavy losses with regard to viewership, and that's without mentioning the tragic reviews for some shows. While there are certainly worse culprits than others, there isn't a single show that hasn't...

Mohamed Diab's comments suggest that Moon Knight season 2 may not be developed for the MCU, as Marvel Studios has not officially confirmed its continuation. Despite the uncertainty, the popular characters from Moon Knight, such as Oscar Isaac's Marc Spector, could potentially appear in other projects within the MCU, including street-level stories or future Avengers films. There is speculation that Marvel Studios may be setting up a Midnight Sons team in the MCU, which could involve the return of Moon Knight and other supernatural characters. However, the future of Moon Knight in the MCU remains unclear at this time.

Mohamed Diab's comments suggest Moon Knight season 2 won't be developed for the MCU. Oscar Isaac debuted in the McU's Phase 4 as Marc Spector, a former mercenary with dissociative identity disorder (Did) who shares his body with alternate personalities Steven Grant and Jake Lockley, and is also the avatar of the...

The mystery surrounding which witch Sasheer Zamata will be playing in Agatha: Coven of Chaos has been solved.

The SNL alum-turned-Home Economics star confirmed to Mashable that she will be taking on the role of sorceress Jennifer Kale in Disney+’s forthcoming WandaVision spinoff.

More from TVLineTVLine Items: William Friedkin Tribute, CNN Schedule Shake-Up and MoreNew Ahsoka Trailer Teases the Return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker - WatchHSM:tm:ts Finally Addresses Its Unseen Mockumentary Camera Crew in Series Finale: 'Who the F-k Are You Guys?'

“I definitely did as much research as I could,” she said of preparing for her Coven of Chaos character,...

Sasheer Zamata will portray Jennifer Kale when the Disney+ series Agatha: Coven of Chaos debuts.

Speaking to Mashable, the comedian confirmed her role as Jennifer Kale, a longtime supporting character of Doctor Strange, Man-Thing, and Ghost Rider. While Zamata didn't reveal too much, she promised that her version of Kale would be fresh and comic-accurate. "I definitely did do as much research as I could," she explained. But the way we formed this character is very different from what I think people expect."

Related: Agatha: Coven of Chaos Is a 'Delicious' MCU Entry, Says Kathryn Hahn

Zamata also feels that the storyline in Agatha: Coven of Chaos is fitting since she talks about being visited by witches in her comedy special. "I had already written material for [The First Woman] before I went through the audition process," the comedian said. "It felt magical that I got to be in a show about witches.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is well into the Multiverse Saga, opening up the opportunity for Marvel to revisit some of its earliest movies and long-dormant franchises. For the first time in years, if not decades, some film franchises and their iconic characters actually have a chance of returning to the big screen for one last adventure.

Related: 10 Most Problematic Superheroes In Film

While Avengers: Secret Wars will likely feature plenty of cameos from pre-mcu movies, a brief appearance isn't enough to do justice to each of these characters. Instead, there are plenty of Marvel films that deserve a sequel and could be folded into the McU's ongoing Multiverse Saga.

X-Men

2002's X-Men was a turning point for superhero movies, launching one of the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time. The series followed key mutants like Wolverine, Professor X, and Storm as they fought for the rights of mutantkind, while also...

One new tease from Marvel Studios could hint at the debut of a terrifying superhero team in the MCU following 2022's Werewolf by Night. The McU's Phase 4 is considered by some to be the most light-hearted era of Marvel Studios' shared franchise, but the MCU also dipped its toes into the world of horror during Phase 4, experimenting with projects such as Michael Giacchino's Werewolf by Night and Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The former, Marvel Studios' first Special Presentation for Disney+, introduced several characters from Marvel Comics' horror roster, setting the stage for some thrilling future stories in the MCU.

Werewolf by Night, released on October 7, 2022, introduced Gael García Bernal to the MCU as Jack Russell, a monster hunter who has been inflicted with a curse that allows him to transform into a werewolf. As well as bringing Russell into the fray, Werewolf by Night...

Of the many praises that have been sung about Werewolf By Night, a great deal of them center around the relationship between Gael Garcia Bernal's titular lycanthrope and the massive pile of plants that is Man-Thing (Carey Jones/Jeffery Ford). Formerly a biochemist known as Ted Sallis, Man-Thing was transformed into his mossy alter ego due to an injection of an experimental compound and encountering magical forces within a swamp. Although Man-Thing has appeared in other Marvel television projects including episodes of The Super Hero Squad Show and Ultimate Spider-Man, his biggest claim to fame before Werewolf by Night was the TV film titled...Man-Thing.

Kevin Smith reveals that Man-Thing was supposed to appear in another planned television special before he appeared in Werewolf By Night. The Disney+ special presentation has garnered positive reviews from fans and critics and has once again secured another Marvel hero into the popular mainstream. Besides the titular werewolf, the swamp-based superhero Man-Thing has also achieved popularity due to his charming personality, mixed with his rather violent superpowers. Following the success of Werewolf By Night, there has been an interest in bringing the character back in a future MCU project, hopefully, so he can appear alongside other major superheroes.

Man-Thing was created in 1971 by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, and Gray Morrow, but despite having his own series was always seen as one of the lesser-known heroes in the Marvel Universe who was better teamed up with another character. A television film titled Man-Thing was released in 2005 on Sci-Fi Channel,...

"Werewolf By Night" has arrived on Disney+ just in time for the spooky season and luckily, it rules/ The Marvel special stars Gael Garcia Bernal as Jack Russell, a man who transforms into the titular beast under the light of the full moon. Other notable Marvel characters appearing in the special are Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly) and Ted Sallis (Carey Jones), aka Man-Thing — who looks amazing by the way. The special is a bold swing for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, something that has felt increasingly rare as of late, and director/composer Michael Giacchino has brought this formerly unexplored corner of Marvel Comics to brilliant life.

Comics got increasingly weird throughout the '50s and '60s as creators struggled to work around the harsh restrictions imposed by the Comics Code Authority — seriously, some of those stories are wild! By the '70s, the Cca had relaxed a bit and...

With production well underway on Loki Season 2, it was announced at D23 this weekend that Ke Huy Quan of the hit springtime movie Everything Everywhere All at Once (and, yes, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) is part of the Marvel series’ cast.

Quan appeared on-stage at the event with co-stars Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson and Sophia Di Martino, before the playing of Season 2 footage that revealed Quan to be playing a Tva (Time Variance Authority) employee. Loki Season 2 is on track for a Summer 2023 release date.

More from TVLineGael García Bernal Is Werewolf by Night in Disney+ Trailer Featuring Marvel's Man-Thing,...

Being a half-blood is dangerous business, Percy Jackson warns us in the first trailer for Disney+’s upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians. “If you think you might be one of us, my advice is: Turn away while you still can.”

Catch your first glimpse at Percy & Co. in the above sneak peek.

More from TVLineGael García Bernal Is Werewolf by Night in Disney+ Trailer Featuring Marvel's Man-Thing, Tva Hunters -- WATCHTVLine Items: Elton John Farewell Livestream, Moon Girl Trailer and MoreShe-Hulk Director: Madisynn/Wong Bonus Scene Didn't Exist in the Script

Based on Rick Riordan’s best-selling book series,...

Coach Korn is getting back in the game.

Disney+ announced Saturday that Season 2 of John Stamos‘ Big Shot will arrive Wednesday, Oct. 12, with all 10 episodes available to binge on premiere day. TVLine, meanwhile, has your exclusive first look at the trailer, which reveals that the Westbrook School for Girls is going co-ed (!), and teases a potential love connection between Marvyn and Holly (played by Glee‘s Jessalyn Gilsig).

More from TVLineGael García Bernal Is Werewolf by Night in Disney+ Trailer Featuring Marvel's Man-Thing, Tva Hunters -- WATCHTVLine Items: Elton John Farewell Livestream, Moon Girl Trailer and MoreShe-Hulk Director: Madisynn/Wong...

Consider it an early Christmas gift.

Disney+ on Saturday announced at the D23 Expo that The Santa Clauses — a limited series revival of the beloved Santa Clause film franchise starring Tim Allen — will premiere Wednesday, Nov. 16, with its first two episodes.

More from TVLineGael García Bernal Is Werewolf by Night in Disney+ Trailer Featuring Marvel's Man-Thing, Tva Hunters -- WATCHTVLine Items: Elton John Farewell Livestream, Moon Girl Trailer and MoreShe-Hulk Director: Madisynn/Wong Bonus Scene Didn't Exist in the Script

The Santa Clauses finds Scott “on the brink of his 65th birthday and realizing that he can’t be Santa forever,...

It’s now or never for the East High Wildcats.

The upcoming fourth season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series will find Miss Jenn & Co. staging a production of — wait for it — High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

More from TVLineGael García Bernal Is Werewolf by Night in Disney+ Trailer Featuring Marvel's Man-Thing, Tva Hunters -- WATCHTVLine Items: Elton John Farewell Livestream, Moon Girl Trailer and MoreShe-Hulk Director: Madisynn/Wong Bonus Scene Didn't Exist in the Script

But wait, in classic HSM:tm:ts fashion, there’s a twist! When the students return for their first day back...

One of my most anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe projects is perhaps the one I know the least about — Werewolf By Night. Starring Gael García Bernal and Laura Donnelly, Werewolf By Night will be Marvel’s first Halloween special and an incredibly fun teaser trailer was released at the D23 Expo.

If you’re a fan of black and white horror filled with pulpy goodness, then Werewolf By Night will be right up your alley. With influences from classic Universal Horror and Hammer Horror (it also brought back memories of The Beast Must Die), there’s a lot of great imagery in the teaser, including a split second glimpse at Man-Thing. But for me, Harriet Sansom Harris steals the damn show. I know the actress best thanks to her roles on The X-Files and Frasier, but she’s a force of nature in everything she appears in. I’m beyond thrilled...

(Superhero Bits is a collection of stories, updates, and videos about anything and everything inspired by the comics of Marvel, DC, and more. For comic book movies, TV shows, merchandise, events, and whatever catches our eye, this is the place to find anything that falls through the cracks.)

In this edition of Superhero Bits:

The Rock weighs in on a Marvel/DC crossover.

Marvel Comics previews what's next for Spider-Man.

The "Gotham Knights" video game is finished.

"Superman & Lois" loses a major cast member.

All that and more!

Marvel Previews What's Next For Spider-Man Following His 60th Birthday

Spider-Man recently celebrated his 60th birthday and the webslinger remains Marvel's most popular superhero. So, what's next? The publisher's Editor In Chief C.B. Cebulski and Spider-Editor Nick Lowe both sat down in the above video to go over some of what's coming down the pipeline for Spidey, including the upcoming landmark "Amazing...

The action horror film Hex, directed by the filmmaking duo of Chris Johnston and Andy Malchiodi in their feature debut, has been given a DVD and digital release courtesy of Lionsgate, and we’ve gotten our hands on the trailer for Hex to help you decide whether or not this is something you would like to watch. You can check it out in the embed above.

Hex was scripted by Hans Rodionoff, whose previous credits include The Skulls II, Saint Sinner, The Hollow, Man-Thing, Lost Boys: The Tribe, Lost Boys: The Thirst, Deep Blue Sea 2, and episodes of The Goldbergs. For this one, Rodionoff crafted the following story:

Six extreme thrill-seekers get more excitement than they can handle in this intense, pulse-pounding action-horror tale. Loner Sarah joins a team of skydivers to help them execute a dangerous formation jump called “The Hex,” ignoring warnings that the act may be cursed.

(Superhero Bits is a collection of stories, updates, and videos about anything and everything inspired by the comics of Marvel, DC, and more. For comic book movies, TV shows, merchandise, events, and whatever catches our eye, this is the place to find anything that falls through the cracks.)

In this edition of Superhero Bits:

"The Batman" sequel doesn't have the green light yet.

A "Bullet Train" star turned down a role in "Deadpool 2."

A sneak peek at the score for "Shazam! Fury of the Gods."

Jack Quaid is back at it for "The Boys" season 4.

All that and more!

It Looks Like Marvel's Spider-Man Video Game Nearly Had A Multiplayer Mode

The 2018 video game "Marvel's Spider-Man" recently made its way to PC, opening the experience up to a world of new players. As reported by PC Gamer, some fans have been digging into the game's executable file. In doing so,...

Gavin Jasper Jun 14, 2019

Jessica Jones Season 3 puts our hard-drinking hero up against a disturbed new villain, and Gregory Sallinger has roots in Marvel Comics.

The release of Jessica Jones Season 3 is pretty monumental because this is the end of the line for the long-running Netflix/Marvel relationship. When you add it all up, it’s the 13th season of The Defenders corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and between that and the actual movie part of the McU trying to get ready for the likes of the Eternals and Shang-Chi, well, we’re a long way from the A-list Marvel characters. For her final season, Jessica Jones’ big villain is Jeremy Bobb (Russian Doll) playing Gregory Salinger, who appears to be a garden-variety serial killer, but who Marvel fans will recognize as Foolkiller.

Foolkiller was never in any Marvel cartoon. I’m fairly certain he has never made a video game appearance.

Almost half a decade on, the first Guardians of the Galaxy continues to draw the scrutiny of the internet, as fans seek to discover the last remaining Easter Egg. And in a new piece from Giant Box of Comics, the case is made that director James Gunn may have hidden a key Marvel character right before our eyes.

You might recall the post-credits scene of the 2014 flick, which introduces us to Howard the Duck. This cigar-smoking fowl first made his comic book debut in a 1973 issue of Adventure into Fear, a horror series that served as a vehicle for the swamp monster named Man-Thing.

With that in mind, you may want to pause the below video around the 3-second mark. On the left of the shot, as part of Taneleer Tivan’s collection, you’ll notice a plant-like design that Giant Box of Comics has argued bears a resemblance to the Man-Thing himself.

The creator of Goosebumps, R.L. Stein, is jumping into comics again, this time with Boom! Studios. He recently wrote a five-issue Man-Thing miniseries for Marvel Comics that turned out great! So, it's awesome to hear that we've got more comics coming from him. 

According to Publishers Weekly, Stine signed a world rights deal with the comic publisher, in which Stein will write four graphic novels under Boom!'s KaBoom! imprint. Those projects are described as a supernatural middle-grade series. The first of these horror comics will be released in the fall of 2019.

Unfortunately, we don't have any details on the stories that these graphic novels will tell, but as a fan of Stein and his work, I'm looking forward to seeing what he ends up creating. ...

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said the Disney-owned, billion dollar 'Marvel Cinematic Universe' may branch off into a 'horror movie' genre division, that could include vampire hunter "Blade", the swamp creature "Man-Thing", as well as a huge catalogue of Marvel horror titles and characters that stretch back to the 1950's:

"'Horror' can mean a lot of things," said Feige.

"Did you mean a movie like 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'...

"...or 'Hostel' or a 'Friday the 13th' or a 'Poltergeist'?

"'Poltergeist' is a little bit more my wheelhouse.

"That's such a great movie and it scared the heck out of me...

"...but it’s really fun."

Click the images to enlarge...

Find "Marvel" Comic Books Here...

Over the weekend, Marvel assembled those who helped bring Avengers: Infinity War to life to promote the upcoming superhero blockbuster, with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige offering a hint at what's to come in Marvel Phase 4 and beyond, including movies set within the horror genre. While all of the McU movies have centered around Marvel Comics characters, the stories themselves are often rooted in much different genres, with Feige revealing in a new interview that he would like to examine the horror genre. Here's what he had to say, when asked about the possibility of a Marvel Cinematic Universe horror movie, especially now that Marvel has got the rights back to characters like Blade and Man-Thing.

"I like both of those characters that you named, and I think, again, horror can mean a lot of things. Horror, did you mean a movie like Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Hostel or a...

Marvel Studios has done a great job so far with their films and we've seen them play with several different kinds of genres over the years. But one genre they haven't really played with yet is the horror genre. We know that Josh Boone is doing that with his New Mutants movie, but will Marvel Studios one day decide to dive into that genre and try something new with it?

While talking to Cb, Kevin Feige says that it's certainly a possibility! When asked if the studio would eventually give it a try with characters like Blade and Man-Thing, he said:

"I like both of those characters that you named, and I think, again, horror can mean a lot of things. Horror, did you mean a movie like Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Hostel or a Friday the 13th or a Poltergeist? Poltergeist is a little bit more my wheelhouse, that's...

The (Norse) mythology surrounding Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder has been explored a lot over the trilogy of Thor movies we’ve seen so far. One of the most important players conspicuous by their absence, though, is Beta Ray Bill, a fan favourite ally of the Asgardian’s from the comics. That’s unfortunate, too, as audiences would love to see the character on the big screen and, as it turns out, so would at least one important figure behind the scenes of the McU.

While talking with CinemaBlend, Thor: Ragnarok‘s VFX lead Jake Morrison expressed a desire to have Beta Ray Bill brought into the franchise in the future. As a horse-faced alien, the character would likely be created via CGI and Morrison would love to get a chance to work on him. In particular, he’d like to recreate a classic comic book moment.

“I think...

There’s one important element that Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 nails with perfection: the tried-and-true Lego experience. Objects explode in brilliant fashion, players gather studs with reckless abandon, and minifigures unlock with enough frequency to completely wear out that dopamine receptor in your brain. Of course, the latest chaotic installment of the Lego Marvel series doesn’t deviate too far from the previously established formula, which means it probably won’t draw new gamers into the fold. Still, it checks all the right boxes and hits most of the necessary marks, giving fans exactly what they crave. That said, don’t expect anything too different from what you’ve played before.

During the game’s opening sequence, which features the Guardians of the Galaxy battling an intergalactic villain known as Kang (who travels around in an enormous sword-shaped spacecraft), I kicked things off with my usual Lego ritual: destroying as...

Will you be on the hunt for Easter eggs when it comes to watching Thor: Ragnarok on the big screen this November? Well, then, you better keep your eyes open during every single minute of the movie, cause there will be a lot. Right down to an actual Easter egg planted by director Taika Waititi, which is a fun wink and nod to the concept itself. But the real meat here is that Thor 3 finally confirms the presence of fan-favorite characters Beta Ray Bill and Man-Thing, along with a few fun others. Though, they're never actually seen on screen.

According to Marvel big boss Kevin Feige, this particular Easter egg is the biggest one Thor: Ragnarok has to offer. And it's pretty cool. The Easter egg in question is actually revealed in the trailers and TV spots, so you don't have to go looking high and low for it either.

Black clothes. White skull. Smoking guns. These are the gloriously simple ingredients behind the Punisher, the no-holds-barred antihero who'll soon be starring in one of the fall's most anticipated series. As played by The Walking Dead's Jon Bernthal during the second season of Netflix's Daredevil, the gun-toting vigilante stole every scene he was in, making the network's relentless campaign of teases and trailers damn near irresistible. But like every major superhero, he's taken a long strange trip from his comic-book origins to his modern-day multimedia superstardom. Below, you'll find...

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Man-Thing #1, the comic book debut of Goosebumps author R.L. Stine, proved to be a one of a kind book for Marvel. Much less interested in fitting in with the house style, it was largely a homage to the horror comics of decades gone by. This second issue follows on in much the same spirit, with all Stine’s usual black humour and love of pulpy horror. Somehow, though, it ends up being even weirder than the opening issue.

After coming face to face with himself on the streets of Burbank, Man-Thing is teleported away back to his swamp in the Everglades. But with vulture, bat and snake attacks coming from all around, and a reunion with his lost love Lily-Ann Millard, something is very amiss. Could it be that the whole of reality is threatened and that...

It may be hard for many to believe, but even after writing hundreds of books over the course of several decades, R.L. Stine has never written a comic book. Until now, that is. For the last month or so, the 73-year-old Goosebumps author has been teasing fans that his first ever comic book is coming and that it will be for Marvel. Now it has been confirmed that he will be writing a brand new, five-issue Man-Thing series.

New York Times got the confirmation about the new Man-Thing series, which will be available in March of next year. R.L. Stine talked with them a bit about his first comic book, saying that he originally wanted to get into comics as an artist before becoming a writer, and that this is something of a realized dream for him. Here is what he had to say about it.

"My first ambition was...

Fear Street and Goosebumps author R.L. Stine is stepping outside of Shadyside and into the swamp to bring fear to the pages of Marvel Comics in a new Man-Thing comic book series.

Initially mentioned this past Halloween as a secretive project for Marvel, The New York Times and EW reported today that Stine's Man-Thing comic book series will consist of five issues and feature artwork by German Peralta and other talented artists.

According to Marvel (via EW), the new Man-Thing series will follow the titular monster as he goes up against “an ancient and mysterious danger” while outside the familiar confines of his swamp.

Regarding the tone of the series, Stine told The New York Times what readers can expect from his take on the creature that was created by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, and Gray Morrow back in 1971:

“I’m going to do a lot of...

How does this whole Spider-Man thing work between Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios, following the groundbreaking arrangement struck between the two companies regarding this one particular character and the world he inhabits? That's been a big question people have been trying to figure out since it was announced that both studios would be partnering up to bring Spider-Man... Read More...

My mom died thinking she threw away a copy of Superman number one from 1938.

Yes, I do indeed realize just how lame that must sound, and it would be if I gave a flying fish about that book with regards to my mother. I don’t but it’s important to the story I’m trying to write and just so I’m crystal clear, I’d happily burn the last copy left on Earth to spend just a minute more with my mother.

It was Superman number two she tossed out, and you can read the whole story entitled A Comic Book Tale on ComicMix.

I told her it was number one while trying to make the point that she should never throw out another comic book of mine, ever, and she never did. I have been keeping that my secret weapon for when I needed a real ‘gotcha’ to use on my mom.

Usually, when a TV show is on its third set of showrunners before its second season has begun, it's the sign of major creative trouble. With Netflix's Daredevil — which almost everyone (myself included) really liked last year — it's been a sign that the previous showrunners were too in-demand to stick around for very long. Drew Goddard (Cabin in the Woods, The Martian) started out as the man in charge, but left early in the first season to work on the (since-canceled) Spider-Man spin-off movie The Sinister Six. Spartacus creator Steven DeKnight came in to steer the ship for the rest of season 1, but didn't want to stick around long term, given other opportunities (one of which turned out to be directing Pacific Rim 2). So now Daredevil has turned to a pair of writers who worked on the first season — Doug Petrie (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Horror Story) and Marco Ramirez (Sons of Anarchy,...