Review – Avengers: Endgame will ruin you for any future comic book films

[***This review is ENTIRELY spoiler-free.***]

Reaching the climax of anything is always a bittersweet moment. The slow, steady build-up (in this case 11 years worth) constantly stroking the fire of your interest, keeping you on the edge of satisfaction. You’re perfectly happy with what is going on at the moment, all the while knowing that something bigger and more exciting is going to come soon. Once it finally comes, you’re able to release the immense (11 years worth of) tension that has been building in one big explosion. That’s exactly what Avengers: Endgame does to the committed fans who have stuck through all the phases Marvel’s cinematic universe has thrown to us, many with mixed results. After the euphoric ecstasy that the film brings, we are left with the sad thought: Will any Marvel film feel this good again?

It’s been a long journey from the first Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame, but it will easily prove worth every minute. First off, you have to applaud Marvel’s commitment to establishing a multifaceted universe before just slamming all the characters together for one major meet-up (*cough, cough* Justice League *cough, cough). Watching Endgame, I got the same chills that the first Avengers film gave me, but that Age of Ultron didn’t. Whether these Avengers films are an obvious cash-grab becomes a moot point when their quality is this high. Out of any of the previous Marvel films, Endgame is a love letter to the fans. Every cameo, every silly plot development, every note of sadness, and even every callback (many of which you’ve probably forgotten about) to previous films shows the attention to detail, not just for the MCU but also for the fans that have kept it running.

The Russo Brothers have shown us the full potential of the comic genre by subverting it ever since they first joined the MCU with Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Up until that point, the Marvel films had a fairly predictable tone and narrative. The Winter Soldier proved that there are no limitations to a comic book film and that even they can be elevated. Since then, we’ve gotten gems like James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok. All three game changers, but each for a different reason. If Endgame suffers from any flaws, it is because of the variety of different tones from each of the films. The Russo Brothers try their best to appease the tonal origins of each superior hero, but the lighthearted and humorous nature of one ends up undermining the emotional development of the other.

There will be moments in the film where an overwhelming feeling of sadness will take over. You’ll probably end up watching the climax of the film through misty eyes and a runny nose, so the things that are meant to be the emotional high and low points aren’t that affected by the uneven tone. What is affected are all of the small, somber scenes leading up to those big emotional gut punches, that get ruined because the scenes aren’t given time to breathe before someone throws in a funny one-liner. Luckily, the tone doesn’t affect the pacing in the slightest. At 3 hours, this film goes by pretty briskly. Unless you made the mistake of not peeing beforehand or buying a soda and popcorn, you won’t notice the runtime at all. There is a lot packed into this film and they make every minute count.

Just like Infinity War, Endgame is made fun because all the character interactions we haven’t seen on-screen before. There is one scene in particular, when all the female heroes of the MCU are the focus of a battle, that rivals the power of the No Man’s Land scene in Wonder Woman. During the climax of the film, you’ll run the full gamut of human emotions, going from one feeling to the next. Even though there are a few too many forced pop culture references in the film, seeing the evolution of all our favorite characters makes it more than worth it. Some of them we are reintroduced to, some we say goodbye to, and others we say see you later as the film teases what new adventures are in store for them in the future. Once you experience Avengers: Endgame, you’ll quickly realize that there will never be anything like it again (or at least not for another 11 years), and honestly, maybe there shouldn’t be.

The Geeks OUT Podcast: Finding Your Family w/ Shazam!

Geeks OUT Podcast: Finding Your Family w/ Shazam!

In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin (@Gilligan_McJew) is joined by @JonHerzog (on Instagram) as they discuss found families in Shazam!

In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Jon Herzog, as they discuss found families in Shazam! the movie, marvel at Captain Marvel’s (over) $1 billion box office, and celebrate Michelle Pfeiffer cracking that whip as our Strong Female Character of the Week.

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BIG OPENING

KEVIN: Captain Marvel has made over $1 Billion
JON: New trailers for Avengers: Endgame

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DOWN AND NERDY

KEVIN: Pet Semetary, Twilight Zone, Major X
JON: Shazam!, Sabrina, Binge Mode: Game of Thrones

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STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER

Michelle Pfeiffer proves she can still whip it

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THIS WEEK IN QUEER

Netflix orders animated gay spy series Q-Force

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CLIP OF THE WEEK

New trailer for The Dead Don’t Die

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THE WEEK IN GEEK

MOVIES

Rachel Weisz & David Harbour in talks to join Black Widow
• Kumail Nanjiani may join The Eternals
Fox/Disney teasing sequels to Aliens, Kingsmen, Planet of the Apes, & more
• New teaser for Joker
New photos from Terminator: Dark Fate
New trailer for My Spy

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TV

• New trailer for Netflix’s The Society
• John Cho cast as lead in live action Cowboy Bebop series
• Netflix renews The Umbrella Academy for season 2
Gotham teases new look of their “not The Joker”
• New trailer for season 5 of Fear the Walking Dead
• First peak at the host of the reboot of Creepshow

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COMIC BOOKS

• DC’s DCeased getting horror movie variants
DC’s Walmart exclusives no longer exclusive

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SHILF

• KEVIN & JON: Zachary Levi, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, and DJ Cotrona

The Geeks OUT Podcast: The Marvelous Ms. Larson

The Geeks OUT Podcast

Opinions, reviews, incisive discussions of queer geek ideas in pop culture, and the particularly cutting brand of shade that you can only get from a couple of queer geeks all in highly digestible weekly doses.

In this week’s marvelously extended episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Jon Herzog, as they salute the success of Brie Larson and Captain Marvel, take a peak at the new trailer for Game of Thrones, and celebrate Mr. Rogers and 20BiTeen in This Week in Queer.

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BIG OPENING

KEVIN: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening up sooner at Disney
JON: New trailer for final season of Game of Thrones

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DOWN AND NERDY

KEVIN: Captain Marvel, Star Trek: Discovery, Prisoner X
JON: How To Train Your Dragon 3, Binge Mode: Game of Thrones Podcast

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STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER

Captain Marvel has the 6th highest opening ever

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THIS WEEK IN QUEER

Mr. Rogers was bisexual

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CLIP OF THE WEEK

New trailer for Good Omens

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THE WEEK IN GEEK

MOVIES

New trailer for Shazam!
• First tease of Jared Leto as Morbius and character breakdowns
• New trailer for Midsommar
• New Line developing Hello Kitty movie
New poster for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
New trailer for Tolkien
New trailer for Brightburn

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TV

• New trailer for season 2 of Cobra Kai
• New trailer for season 3 of Queer Eye
• New teaser for Love, Death, & Robots
• Freeform orders Motherland: Fort Salem about witches in the military
• Riverdale dedicating every episode this season to Luke Perry
Arrow is coming to an end
• New photos of Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor on Supergirl
• New teaser for NOS4A2

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COMIC BOOKS

• A sequel to Kwanza Osajyefo’s Black is being Kickstarted
• The Kickstarter for The Closet of Secrets surpasses its goal

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SHILF

• KEVIN: Talos
• JON: Yon-Rogg (Jude Law)

The Geeks OUT Podcast: Avengers 4-play

The Geeks OUT Podcast

Opinions, reviews, incisive discussions of queer geek ideas in pop culture, and the particularly cutting brand of shade that you can only get from a couple of queer geeks all in highly digestible weekly doses.

In this week‘s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Andrew Fafoutakis as they discuss Marvel finally releasing the Avengers 4 teaser, a new trailer for Captain Marvel, and celebrate SonicFox winning at The Game Awards in This Week in Queer.

 

BIG OPENING

KEVIN: Kevin Hart withdraws from hosting the Oscars after finally apologizing for homophobic tweets
ANDREW: New trailer for Avengers 4: Endgame

 

DOWN AND NERDY

KEVIN: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Grinch, Doomsday Clock, Uncanny X-Men
ANDREW: Nailed It, She-Ra, Ralph Breaks the Internet

 

STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER

New trailer for Captain Marvel

 

THIS WEEK IN QUEER

SonicFox wins at The Game Awards and our hearts

 

CLIP OF THE WEEK

New teaser trailer for The Umbrella Academy

 

THE WEEK IN GEEK

MOVIES

New trailer for live-action Kim Possible movie
 Marvel developing a Shang-Chi movie
 New details about Spider-Man: Far From Home
• Warner Bros. developing a Plastic Man movie
• New trailer for Brightburn

 

TV

• New adaptation of Ghost in the Shell coming to Netflix
• Syfy developing revival of Night Gallery
• Golden Globe nominations announced
The Good Place renewed for season 4
Doctor Who renewed for season 12
New trailer for Chilling Adventures of Sabrina holiday special
New trailer for Arrowverse’s Elseworlds

 

COMICS

BOOM! unveils new character designs for Buffy reboot
 Marvel bringing Conan the Barbarian into new Avengers event

The Geeks OUT Podcast: The Dark Peen Rises

The Geeks OUT Podcast

Opinions, reviews, incisive discussions of queer geek ideas in pop culture, and the particularly cutting brand of shade that you can only get from a couple of queer geeks all in highly digestible weekly doses.

In this week‘s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Tea Berry Blue as they discuss Bruce Wayne’s batawang showing up in the pages of Batman: Damned, wonder how many times they can re-watch the Captain Marvel teaser, and celebrate Chloe Zhao, the new director for Marvel’s Eternals as our Strong Female Character of the Week.

 

BIG OPENING

KEVIN: Batman: Damned debuts Bat-peen
TEA: New teaser for Captain Marvel

 

DOWN AND NERDY

KEVIN: Maniac, Return of Wolverine
TEA: Reigns games, Monster Girl Maker

 

STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER

Chloe Zhao to direct Marvel’s Eternals

 

THIS WEEK IN QUEER

Sesame Street writer says Bert & Ernie are a couple

 

CLIP OF THE WEEK

New trailer for Mary Poppins Returns

 

THE WEEK IN GEEK

MOVIES

 New trailer for The Girl in the Spider’s Web
Bryan Singer in talks to direct Red Sonja reboot
 Kevin Feige to officially oversee X-Men movies
• New trailer for The Grinch
• 
New trailer for Ralph Breaks the Internet
• Space Jam 2 
greenlit with Ryan Coogler 
• 
Casting rumors for Birds of Prey
• 
First look at Joaquin Phoenix as Joker

 

TV

•  Netflix making live action Avatar: The Last Airbender
Marvel developing series for Scarlet Witch, Loki, and more
 ABC developing Marvel series centered on female heroes
 New teaser for Daredevil announces season premiere Oct. 19
New trailer for Netflix reboot Haunting of Hill House
New promo for Twilight Zone revival
Veronica Mars revival officially happening 2019
Star Trek: Discovery shorts premiere Oct. 4
New trailer for Doctor Who
New trailer for Big Mouth
 New trailer for Lore season 2
DuckTales renewed for season 3

 

COMICS

 Marvel teases the Death of Daredevil
Boom! Studios gets Buffy

 

SHILF

KEVIN: Jubilee
TEA: Maria Rambeau