MarvelBlog News for April 20th, 2025
Marvel just had a Fantastic week. We’ll discuss in this week’s MarvelBlog News.
Daredevil Ends
Before we get to the deliciousness of the new Fantastic Four trailer, let’s do some clean-up on Daredevil: Born Again.
As you hopefully know, the first season of the Disney+ reboot concluded this past Tuesday.
While the prior week’s episode ended on a cliffhanger, there wasn’t much of a resolution during the season finale.
What Marvel chose to do instead was set the table for what promises to be an explosive season two.
Several established characters, including some MCU heroes, are in an odd kind of jeopardy, although one is working his way out.
Meanwhile, Disney has gotten the band back together by returning a popular character from the Netflix series.
I won’t spoil who, but let’s just say that it’s someone who originally wasn’t supposed to come back at all.
The on-the-fly reboot of Daredevil: Born Again paid serious dividends, with the Disney+ series delivering electric stories.
However, I’m hedging my bets about whether you’ve even seen it because the ratings suggest you haven’t.
After three weeks of opportunities, the new Daredevil series has yet to chart on Nielsen’s streaming ratings.
As a reminder, Agatha All Along did during most weeks of its run and even increased viewers down the stretch.
Thus far, we’ve gotten no indication that Daredevil is putting up big viewer numbers.
Image: Marvel
Disney published a note about the first two episodes, indicating that 7.5 million people watched.
Since then, the studio has gone into radio silence about a show that deserves all the hype in the world.
Image: Marvel
I will post four episode recaps this week, but the long story short is that Daredevil: Born Again exemplifies the best of Marvel.
It should be doing phenomenally well. The fact that it’s not makes me wonder about Marvel backlash/lack of interest
Daredevil Begins
Image: Marvel
Still, anyone working on the project should be ecstatic because it’s been spectacular thus far.
I’d be hard pressed to choose my favorite episode from four different candidates, which is amazing for a nine-episode season.
Image: Marvel
Originally, Daredevil would have had one extended season. Then, the Hollywood strikes occurred, causing Disney to reevaluate.
The series received a sorely needed hard reboot, which has worked swimmingly.
Image: Marvel
As a byproduct of this decision, Disney split Daredevil: Born Again into two seasons rather than one giant season.
Currently, the cast is already filming season two, and they sound over the moon about what’s happening.
Image: Marvel
Since this group spent the body of the pandemic begging for a sequel and then finally getting one, they recognize what’s at stake.
Even better, the show’s writing has justified Disney’s decision to bet big on the characters.
Image: Marvel
The viewership problem will hopefully solve itself due to the overriding quality of the series.
Disney+ witnessed the same behavior with Andor, a show whose popularity ascended after the first season’s completion.
Image: Marvel
Still, this is a story to track as Daredevil continues in earnest on season two.
Thus far, we’re discussing an exceptional series that not enough people are watching.
The First Steps
Photo: IMDB
Marvel has released the full trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which you can watch here.
The retro aesthetic is on full display here, as the story circles back to a halcyon era that never happened in this reality.
Our most heroic space explorers were astronauts, but it’s the Fantastic Four in their realm.
A new Christmas poster for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo: Marvel
They’re the de facto defenders of Earth, a factor that comes into play when Galactus invades.
Notably, this full-length trailer never shows the entirety of Galactus, merely his boot.
Photo: Marvel Comics
As far as metaphors go, that’s a good one. But we do see the Silver Surfer, who appears likely to battle Johnny Storm.
Marvel doesn’t do hot flyer-on-flyer action often, which makes this matchup unique.
Image: Marvel
Technically, we’ve already seen it with Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. How many fans even remember that film, though?
To a larger point, the trailer drives home the point that it should. These are the members of Marvel’s First Family.
Source: Marvel
We should care about them in a way that’s new to the MCU. Remember how much fans dug Hawkeye’s family BBQs?
Yeah, family dinner with the First Family is a weekly thing. Fans should feel invested in these characters for this reason.
Photo: Marvel
Frankly, this trailer has received some of the most glowing praise in recent memory.
Fans are raving about the characters, who are instantly engaging, especially Johnny Storm.
Photo: Marvel Via Entertainment Weekly
A friend of mine suggested on my old movie website 20+ years ago that Sony and Marvel should work out a buddy movie.
The premise was Spider-Man and the Human Torch, and I maintain to this day that it’d make huge box office.
Photo: Pedro Pascal on Instagram
Joseph Quinn looks like he’s gonna be a superstar after this project.
The Current Status of the MCU
Photo: Disney
My only concern here is that Marvel interest is trending downward in the aftermath of Captain America: Brave New World.
As I mentioned last year, I feared that people would view Deadpool & Wolverine as a one-off.
Source: @VancityReynolds
So, any goodwill from that film evaporated due to the ordinary quality of Captain America 4.
Thunderbolts* has a chance to turn the tide, and I’ve said that it will. Still, the MCU is struggling right now in the eyes of fans.
Photo: Marvel
The next two Marvel titles this year need to be hits and high-quality outings to boot.
Thankfully, the early buzz suggests that they are but make no mistake on the point.
Image: Marvel Studios
Brave New World being mediocre at this moment in time was horrific for Marvel.
The studio needs hits, starting with Thunderbolts*. Speaking of which, tickets are now on sale. So, you know what to do. And have a lovely Easter, everyone!
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