This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
This video explores the long-standing, but very much outdated trope of Spider-Man being broke. Like most mainstream superheroes, Spider-Man is subject to a lot of recurring tropes. Most involve his personal life.
However, I don’t think the overplayed plots about him being broke get enough attention. In addition to breaking down why this makes no sense, I also highlight a few other jobs or careers that would easily ensure Spider-Man never has to worry about money. Enjoy!
This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
This video is my quick, unscripted reaction to the season one finale of X-Men 97. I had such high expectations for this show. And now that the first season is over, I can safely say it delivered! It really was something special. It didn’t just reintroduce the X-Men in a big, bold way. It laid a truly uncanny foundation to build on. Enjoy!
This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
This video analyzes two iconic villains who seek to rule over all, Emperor Palpatine and Dr. Doom.
Which is the better ruler?
Who would you rather live under?
How does their agenda make them great villains?
There’s a lot to consider when reviewing their personas, their backstories, and their capabilities. But when it comes to villainous rulers, these two set the highest of bars. Enjoy!
This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
This video is a bit of a rant on the Avengers, the X-Men, and how they’re depicted in popular media. One is a celebrated team of heroes. The other is hated and feared, even as they try to be heroes, as well. There are many reasons for this that go beyond the general narrative. And with mutants poised to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I believe the time is right to highlight and scrutinize those differences. Enjoy!
It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited for a movie. But “Captain Marvel” remains one of my favorite movies and Ms. Marvel is one of my favorite characters from the comics. So, seeing them together in the same movie is just so perfect! This trailer, complete with a banging Beastie Boys soundtrack, delivers everything I could’ve hoped for and then some. Now, it’s just a matter of waiting until November to finally see it.
This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This is video another addition to my “Jack’s Comic Gems” collection. And this gem is dark, in many ways.
In a story by Donnie Cates, we get a vision of the worst possible scenario for the distant future of the Marvel Universe. In that future, the Mad Titan, Thanos, that has unleashed such fear and dread…wins. But what does it mean for Thanos to finally mean? And what are the larger implications in the past, present, and future of the Marvel universe?
These are heavy questions that help make this gem as compelling as it is dark. Enjoy!
This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video is a general reaction to the events of Fallen Friend: The Death of Ms. Marvel #1.
After the incredibly dumb events of Amazing Spider-Man #26, which resulted in the death of Ms. Marvel, this issue deals with the aftermath. And while there are certainly moments worth highlighting, there are also some hints and teases that have me making some distinctly uncanny speculating. Enjoy!
Also, I uploaded this video just a few hours before the news dropped from Entertainment Weekly about Iman Vellani writing “Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant.” So yes, I’m aware it hasn’t aged well already.
This is another video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video is me making the case for Mr. Sinister to being the X-Men’s primary antagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was only teased briefly in the Fox movies. And we’ve already had over a decade of Magneto being the X-Men’s main villain on the big screen. The time is right for Mr. Sinister to show just how devious he can be. And given the current state of the MCU, the timing couldn’t be better. Enjoy!
Over the holidays last year, I bought a subscription to Marvel Unlimited. For those who don’t know, it’s basically the comic book version of Netflix, but for Marvel Comics. It costs a little over $100 a year. And it’s an app that gives you access to Marvel’s massive catalog of comics, going all the way back to the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby era of the 1960s. If you’re at all interested in getting into Marvel comics without buying massive amounts of books, this is the way to go.
In addition to back issues, Marvel Unlimited also offers some exclusive content that you can’t find in a comic book store or a site like Comixology. Every week, Marvel releases a series of specialized comics designed to be read on a tablet or smartphone. They’re like traditional comics in terms of style, but they’re structured in a way that allows you to scroll down and read them in the same way you would a website.
It’s a very different kind of comic book reading experience, but one I’ve grown quite fond of once I got used to it.
And among those exclusive comics is a series about a character named Jeff the Land Shark. I promise you it’s not as menacing as it sounds. In fact, it’s the complete opposite.
Jeff The Land Shark is kind of what his name entails. He’s a shark, but a land shark. He can swim in the ocean like a shark. He can also walk on four legs, just like a dog. Also, his name is Jeff. It might be generic, but that’s not his most defining quality. What makes Jeff so special is that he is undeniably, unequivocally, unbelievably cute.
Seriously, look at him. In terms of cuteness, he checks every single box and then some.
His story and history is not that elaborate. He’s a fairly new character, having debuted in 2018. He’s mostly been affiliated with characters like Gwenpool, Kate Bishop, and the West Coast Avengers. Sometimes, he’s a pet. Sometimes, he’s a companion. But whatever his role, his primary effect is to be unabashedly adorable, lovable, and a little mischievious.
He’s basically to Marvel what Baby Yoda is to Star Wars. He is the perfect mascot for everything cute, uplifting, and happy.
Why am I singling him out?
Why am I dedicating an entire blog post to Jeff?
Well, there’s a more personal reason that I felt compelled to share. You see, in the past few years, I’ve become a proud uncle to multiple nieces and nephews. And I take my role as their awesome uncle very seriously. If I can lovingly spoil them, I will. That’s what awesome uncles do for their nieces and nephews.
And during our various holiday festivities, a couple of nieces and nephews wanted me to read them comics. That’s something I’ve done for them, even before I discovered Jeff and Marvel Unlimited. But now that I had access to Jeff the Land Shark, I discovered something that gave these wonderful kids a direct dose of unmitigated joy.
I first showed them a single issue of Jeff’s ongoing Marvel Unlimited solo series, It’s Jeff! I just scrolled through the comic, narrating it as any great uncle would, and guided them through the wonderful world that is Jeff the Land Shark.
And they absolutely loved it!
Every time we finished one issue, they laughed and asked for another. It wasn’t too long before we read through every single issue. And even afterwards, they asked me to read through it again. Jeff made that kind of impression. Even Baby Yoda didn’t get them this excited.
It surprised their parents as much as it did me. They often asked why they were cheering the name, Jeff the Land Shark. Then, I showed them a picture of who Jeff was and they immediately got it. Now, reading Jeff the Land Shark is kind of a tradition. I’ve yet to meet a kid that isn’t captivated by his cuteness.
For that reason, I hope Marvel and their Disney overlords take note. I doubt they’ve forgotten how much a boon Baby Yoda was for Star Wars. If they want to do the same for Marvel, they would be wise to leverage Jeff the Land Shark’s cuteness to the utmost.
That’s not just good advice.
That’s an urgent request.
My nieces and nephews want more Jeff the Land Shark content.
So, on their behalf, please get to work on that Marvel and Disney!
My wonderful nieces and nephews need his cuteness and so does the world!
This is another video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video essay is me making the case that, for the most part, Fox got Wolverine wrong as a character over the course of multiple movies. In some cases, they got him egregiously wrong. And there are definitely lessons to learn from these movies, which will hopefully lead to a better Wolverine once he enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Enjoy!