A State of Marvel
Thriving movie studio makes it a great time to be a nerd
By Jake Riem
Chieftain Staff
Has there ever been a better time to be
a nerd than right now? Currently, Marvel
Studios has been putting out the hottest
and most talked about fi lms in years.
Movies such as “Black Panther” and
“Avengers: Infi nity War” have fl ooded
social media and news outlets everywhere
with unprece-
dented hype and
anticipation.
Avid comic
book fans and
cinema enthusi-
asts have been
fl ocking to Mar-
vel movies, such
as “Iron Man,”
“Captain Ameri-
The Black Panther
ca,” and “Guard-
ians of the Galaxy” for the past 10 years,
and the Marvel momentum only seems to
be getting stronger. For comic book own-
ers and superhero fans, this has been an
exciting time to talk about the new world
Marvel is building around us.
“Black Panther” is putting up historic
numbers, racking up around $700 million
in box offi ce sales in its fi rst two weeks.
The loyal King of Wakanda has been one
of the highest-rated movies of the year
and it is absolutely essential to see it. That
is, if you can fi nd a show that isn’t sold
out. A recent 3:00 p.m. Wednesday show-
ing, 10 days after its release, was sold out.
Which is insane.
Michael B. Jordan plays an outstanding
villain in Erik Killmonger, and Chadwick
Boseman brings the T’Challa that every-
body loves. You can’t watch TV news or
go on any website without seeing some-
thing related to the fi lm.
What is even more infl uential has been
the social impact the movie has made
– not only in the U.S., but around the
world. This movie has brought people
and ideas together, unlike just about any-
thing in the world right now. For many,
this is more than just a movie. It is an
easy and light-hearted way to get a point
across and for everybody just to be quiet
B ROTHE R R I C E H I G H S C HO O L C H I E F TA I N
and understand the point.
Movies always have a way of bring-
ing people together. “Black Panther” is
far from an excep-
tion.
Then there’s
“Avengers: Infi n-
ity War,” the one
with everybody
in it. Expect the
heat from this
one. People have been waiting three
years for this, since “Age of Ultron,”
and even longer since the tease of Tha-
nos in the very fi rst “Avengers.”
Marvel is going all out, tying togeth-
er the franchises they have worked so
hard to develop for the last decade.
Thanos and his goons are coming
to Earth, and it isn’t for a tea party.
P AGE 4
Everybody seems to be focused on one
thing, though: Who will Thanos kill off?
There’s much speculation that, in
the next couple of
movies, we will be
without some of
our favorite stars. I
know if something
happens to Bucky
or Cap I will be
heartbroken. Oth-
ers, like Iron Man and Thor, may be in
serious jeopardy. Marvel is working
towards their next generation of stars
to work from. Like Dr. Strange, Black
Panther, and Captain Marvel. Expect
new stars to be safe.
Enjoy these golden years of cinematic-
nerd masterpieces. We may never see
this much superhero again.
M A R C H 2018